Koehn, Marie Wedel (1866-1945)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1945 May 3 p. 3

Birth date: 1866 Dec 22

text of obituary:

MRS. JOHN H. KOEHN

Mrs. John H. Koehn, nee Marie Wedel, daughter of Karl and Eva Koehn Wedel, was born December 22, 1866, in the village of Mesiliski, in the Province Wolhynien, Russia.

During that rather massive emigration movement of the Russian Mennonites to America in the year 1874, she came with her parents, three sisters and two brothers to settle on the prairies of Kansas. Here the family made their new home near what today is known as Galva, in McPherson County.

In this new prairie settlement she received her early training and education in the village school. She attended the Bible and German school. Some of her teachers were Cornelius Voth and Heinrich Dalke. This early training enabled her to continue studying and searching the Scriptures which revealed to her the way of salvation.

As a girl growing into young woman hood she experienced some of the bitter hardships and sorrows of pioneer life. Through these bitter experiences she came to know early in life her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

On October 22, 1883, after a period of catechetical instruction she was baptized on confession of faith in Jesus Christ as her only Savior and Redeemer. The Elder Johann Ratzlaff officiated at the baptismal service. She was at this time received into the membership of the "Canton" now the Emmanuel Mennonite church. Here she remained a loyal and faithful member to the church and God. Having built upon the solid rock foundation of Jesus Christ she remained stedfast [sic] and unmovable in her once accepted faith in the midst of those who were unstable and driven to and fro. She has experienced the struggle and trials of this church, but she constantly encouraged others to remain faithful.

On June 13, 1996 [sic 1886], she was united in holy matrimony with John H. Koehn , son of Heinrich and Elizabeth Becker Koehn. Together they began their journey ond [sic] life's pathway eager and hopeful of the future, being confident that their new home would be most blessed because of the God whom they loved and served. The Lord being most gracious, blessed this happy union with the opportunity of sharing their mutual joys and sorrows for 50 years, six months, and 27 days. This earthly union we broken on January 9, 1937, when her companion was called home to be with the Lord. They had lived at various places during their many years of married life but always in McPherson county. The last 16 years of their married life they lived on a farm one and one-half miles north of Galva.

While she mourned the departure of her beloved companion she nevertheless found comfort in the thought that it was the Lord's doing. She found courage in the hope of meeting him again and that soon she would leave for her eternal home.

Since father died, mother made her home with her various children. While she loved all her children equally well, she nevertheless began to realize that her strength would not permit her to continue to make periodic move to all her children therefore, she preferred to make her home with one of the daughters, Mrs. John B. Unruh. As mother's health began to fail she required more attention and care, thus making it necessary to divide the task among her children. About one year ago she suffered a rather severe stroke, which left her a partial invalid. During this last year it became necessary for her to make occasional moves to the homes of the three oldest daughters.

During all her illness she was very patient and considerate. She often expressed her desire to leave her body of suffering to go home to be with the Lord. Her longing finds expression in the words of St. Paul, "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven." II cor. 5:1-2. She often said, "I am ready and willing to meet my Lord."

On April 21, 1945, at 5:00 p. m. she peacefully laid aside her earthly tabernacle to sweetly answer the summons of the Lord. In her last illness she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage which came upon her suddenly just one week prior to her death.

At the time of her passing she was at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Wedel. She reached the age of 78 years, and four months.

She leaves to mourn her departure, 11 children; Carl, McPherson; Ida, Mrs. F. C. Wedel, Galva; Albert, Galva; Carolina, Mrs. Andrew Wedel, Moundridge; Henry, Galva; Daniel, Canton; Susie, Mrs. Simon Wedel, Copeland; Mabel, Mrs. Gay Small, Galva; Abraham, Halstead; and Marvin, Moundridge; 5 sons-in-law, 6 daughters-in-law; 37 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and one brother, Peter Wedel, of Moundridge, all of Kansas, and a host of relatives and friends. One child and six grandchildren preceded her in death.

We mourn not as those without hope, for we believe that mother rests in peace with the Lord. The days filled with sorrow, tears, and suffering are now replaced by heavenly joy and peace. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; for their works follow with them>"

The funeral services were held April 24, 1945, at 2:00 p. m. from the Emmanuel Mennonite church, near Moundridge, Kansas. Rev. Garman H. Wedel, pastor of the church, assisted the officiating minister, Rev. Clyde H. Dirks of Hutchinson, Kansas. Rev. Dirks used I Peter 1:8 as a text for the funeral sermon. A male quartet composed of Ray Unruh, Lincoln Unruh, Leon Jantz and Lincoln H. Unruh sang a favorite hymn of the departed, "So Nimn Denn Meine Hande," and other appropriate hymns at the home and church. Some of the grandsons served as pall bearers. They were: John Wedel, Ormand Koehn, Nelson Koehn, Victor Koehn, Daton Wedel and Eugene Koehn.

Interment was made at the church cemetery under the direction of D. L. Harder.

The Mennonite obituary: 1945 Jun 12 p. 14