Heinrich "Heins'' Kohl: Employee would have celebrated his 26th birthday today. SPECIAL

This time last year, he and his wife, Jennifer, shared the top of their wedding cake to celebrate their first anniversary.

The two were the parents of a bubbly toddler named Kesley, and relatives say she was the center of their joy.

Today, the family would have celebrated Mr. Kohl's 26th birthday in their new, one-story house in North Augusta.

But an accident at the Augusta BP Amoco Polymer plant early Tuesday morning shattered their plans.

Along with two co-workers, Mr. Kohl died in an explosion while working at the job that his friends and family members said brought him almost as much happiness as did his young wife and child.

``He came a long way for someone so young by achieving so much in such a short time,'' said Leatha Odom, Mr. Kohl's aunt. ``He was hard worker, and he loved his job.''

A native of Augusta, Mr. Kohl graduated from Midland Valley High School in 1994.

He joined the BP Amoco plant in 1998, where he worked as an operator and was a member of the Fire Brigade.

Outside of work, family members said he loved to go fishing or hunting along with golf. They described him as good-natured and ambitious, saving up money for the life he was building.

``He wanted to start out new,'' said his mother Julie Jones.

The news has yet to sink in, Mrs. Jones said.

Not only would today have been Mr. Kohl's birthday, but it also would have been the birthday of his younger sister Katharina Corley. Four months ago, Mrs. Corley, Mrs. Jones' only other child, died of cancer.

A funeral for Mr. Kohl will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Platt's Funeral Home in Evans. The family will be at the funeral home from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday.

Family members are asking for memorials to be made out to the American Cancer Society or to the Rebecca Moon Childhood Cancer Foundation, 4132 Fair Oaks Road in Martinez.

Staff Writer Greg Rickabaugh contributed to this article.

Reach Vicky Eckenrode at (706) 823-3227.