Herbert Ray Cohen, 98 of Overland Park, Kansas, formally of Springfield, Missouri, passed away on Sunday, August 23, 2026 at Brookdale Long-Term Care.

Herbert was born on July 17, 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri to Dr. Wolfe Cohen and Martha Kasoi Cohen. Having graduated from Paseo High School in Kansas City in 1945, he enlisted in the Army in 1947 and was stationed in Yokohama. While there, he established an engineer depot inventory control system for the Far East Command.

Herbert graduated in 1950 from the University of Kansas with a degree in accounting. He re-enlisted in the Army and was sent to Korea. He was a jeep driver for an engineer battalion.

Herbert was employed in Kansas City on the auditing staff of Peat, Marwick and Mitchell. In 1959 he became the controller of the Crank Drug Company in Springfield, Missouri and started his own Certified Public Accounting firm in 1962. Professionally, Herbert was president of the Missouri Society of CPAs, having already served as the president of the Southwest Chapter of the Society of CPAs. In addition, he was a member of the National American Council of American Institute of CPAs.

As a professional in Springfield, Herbert was very community-minded, serving on the following boards: City Utilities, YMCA, Papa Bears, SBA Advisory Board, and the Temple Israel board. Herbert served on the building committee that oversaw the construction of the present Temple Israel building.

Herbert was quite the sports enthusiast as a dedicated fan of both KU sports and Missouri State sports. A very devoted follower, he would attend tournament games and was very proud of KU’s basketball national championship teams.

With much to be proud of during his long life, at the top of Herbert’s list was returning from Korea to Seattle and being treated to a ticker-tape parade along with thousands of other returning soldiers. Coupled with that memory was in the year 2000, when the KU Chancelor granted Herbert’s request to "walk down the hill" with the KU 2000 graduating class in accounting.

Herbert leaves behind his supportive and loving daughter, Marta Cohen Christie and son-in-law Waynard Christie, along with many devoted cousins.

Private Family Burial will be held in Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield, MO.