Koehn, John (1890-1948)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Jun 10 p. 3, 6

Birth date: 1890 Jan 28

text of obituary:

JOHN KOEHN

John Koehn, son of Cornelius and Wilhelmina Lehrman Koehn, was born Jan. 28, 1890, in Marion county, Kansas.

He received his elementary education in the district school, attending school from his parental home. Later he attended the parochial school at Hillsboro, Kansas for one year. Rev. J. H. Epp was his Bible teacher.

He was baptized upon his confession of faith in his Redeemer by Elder Heinrich Banman on June 4, 1911, and accepted into the membership of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite church, whose faithful member he remained until his death.

He was united in marriage with Anna Schmidt March 2, 1917, with whom he shared life's joys and sorrows for over 31 years. The departed was a devoted husband who, amidst the trials and afflictions of life, would seek comfort and guidance from the Lord. The Lord honored his faith repeatedly.

Although of comparatively good health most of his life, he became ill at the beginning of the year. During Easter time the physicians discovered that cancer of the lungs was his ailment. On May 3 he entered the Bethesda hospital where all available medical aid was given him, but he was taken in death on May 31, 1948, a little after midnight. He reached the age of 58 years four months and two days.

He leaves to mourn his sudden departure, his wife, Anna; three brothers, four sisters, three sisters-in-law, and one brother-in-law, with their families.

"Come ye blessed of my Father” rings out through the centuries to all who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. We are convinced that also the departed heard that beautiful invitation, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Matt 25:21.

“They are not dead,
Those loved ones who have passed
Beyond our vision for a little while.
They have but reached the light,
While we still grope in darkness
Where we cannot see them smile.
They are not dead, their’s is the fuller life."

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. P. A. Wedel, pastor of the church, on Wednesday, June 2, 1948, at the Bergen Funeral Home, and at the Alexanderwohl church.