Johnson, Eva E. Koehn (1877-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Nov 5 p. 6

Birth date: 1877 Nov 3

text of obituary:

. . .

— Funeral services were held at the Grace Mennonite church near Halstead Sunday afternoon for Mrs. Eva E. Johnson, 75, Rev. Carl Dirks and Rev. Paul Becker officiating. She died Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Halstead hospital after a two week illness. Mrs. Johnson and husband John A. Johnson, who died Aug. 12 of this year, lived south of Halstead for a period of 60 years. She was also preceded in death Oct. 16 by a daughter, Mrs. Emerson Litwiller of Middleton, Mich. Surviving are three daughters and four sons, three brothers and a sister.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Nov 19 p. 9

text of obituary:

MRS. EVA E. JOHNSON

Eva (Koehn) Johnson, our dear mother, was born to Benjamin and Suzanna Koehn on Nov. 3, 1877, in McPherson county, Kansas. She passed into Heavenly rest at 3:30 a.m. Oct. 28, 1953, in the Halstead hospital. She had reached the age of 75 years, eleven months and 24 days.

Her parents came to the Halstead community early in her life. Here she grew to young womanhood and spent her lifetime. At the age of 16 years, her yearning for immortal life was fulfilled through confession of faith and acceptance into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite.

On Nov. 10, 1895, she was united in matrimony to John A. Johnson, with whom she walked hand in hand for nearly 58 years. This lasting union was broken only two and a half years ago when her dear companion, our father, passed away on August 12. To this union were born six sons and four daughters.

Mother was a kindly person, deeply devoted to her family and beloved by those who knew her. She loved to visit with friends in her home, to have them sing favorite hymns and meditate in prayer. As the wife of a deacon in the church, she was active in her support of his calling, giving many hours of toil and prayer to the ministrations of those in need.

In her ailing years, when her freedom of movement was greatly impaired, she enjoyed most greeting her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren from her rocking chair. During the last 15 years or more, she was in failing health, never bedfast for long, but unable to live an active life. Years ago she rapidly began to lose her eyesight. However after quite extensive treatment and two operations, she was saved from the burden of total blindness.

Mother’s last days were shadowed by bereavement suffered through {ed by bereavement suffered through} [sic repeated phrase] the loss of husband and father, plus the knowledge that one of her daughters was in the last stages of a critical illness. She had been enjoying a Sunday visit with friends when she was suddenly stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage. She lapsed into a deep coma and 18 days later joined hands with God.

She is survived by her children, four sons, Obed and Adam of Halstead, Benjamin of Middleton, Mich. and Victor of Kansas City, Mo., and three daughters, Susan and Ina of the home, and Mrs. Johanna Litwiller of Perrinton, Mich. Also surviving her are 19 grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, three brothers, one sister and a host of other relatives and friends. Her husband, two sons, Samuel and Daniel who died in infancy, a daughter, Elizabeth Litwiller, who died two weeks ago, three brothers and one sister preceded her in death.

Funeral services were held in the Grace Mennonite church on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 1, at 2:30 o’clock. A prayer service preceded the church service. Conducting the services were Rev. Carl Dirks, Rev. Paul Becker and Rev. Glenn Litwiller of Middleton, Mich. Hymns sung in the home were “Under His Wings” and “The Hills of Home.” In the church, the choir sang “Safe In The Arms of Jesus,” “Won’t It be Wonderful There” and "Heaven Is Nearer Since Mother Is There.”

Graveside services were in charge of Rev. Dirks. Her body was tenderly laid to rest by the side of her husband with the Kaufman funeral directors in charge of funeral arrangements. Casket bearers were all nephews — Irvin Johnson, Lloyd Smith, Ben Koehn, Elton Koehn and Paul Koehn.