Koehn, Andrew Ernest (1858-1938)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1938 Mar 2 p. 2

Birth date: 1858 Dec 5

text of obituary:

Andrew E. Koehn

Andrew Ernest Koehn was born in Antonievka, Poland, Russia, on Dec. 5, 1938, and passed away at his home in Enid, Okla., Febr. 16, 1938, where he resided since the summer of 1937.

In 1874 he came to America with his parents and many other relatives and friends. His parents settled in Marion county, Kansas.

In 1881 he was baptized on confession of his faith by Elder John Ratzlaff and taken into the fellowship of the Mennonite church.

On Febr. 25, 1884, he was joined in holy wedlock with Anna Ratzlaff, Elder John Ratzlaff, performing the marriage ceremony. To this union were born three sons, Fred, Herman, and Carl; two daughters, Mrs. John Unruh and Mrs. C. B. Unruh — all residing in Enid, Okla.

For a number of years he and his family lived on a farm near Halstead, Kansas. In 1908, Mr. Koehn filed on a homestead near Coy, Okla., where he and his family resided for 15 years. From there he moved with his family to Ringwood, where they lived 18 years. When in the early thirties of this century a Mennonite settlement was opened at Texline, Texas, he and his children moved there, too. But after only a brief stay he moved back to Oklahoma, and so it came that Enid, Okla., was his home since April, 1934.

Mr. Koehn enjoyed good health and worked hard. In July 1936 he had a sun-stroke from which he suffered ever since.

His health commenced to fail gradually when on Febr. 13 he became seriously ill and the doctor was called. Upon a thorough examination the physician pronounced that he was suffering of a weak heart. During the last three days of his life he at times suffered greatly and passed into a state of coma at intervals.

The day before his death he gave his wife to understand that he was saved by grace through the blood of his Redeemer, Jesus Christ. The last night he repeatedly told his wife he wanted to go home.

Wednesday at 11:15 a.m., Febr. 16, he passed from this life into eternity. He reached the high Biblical age of 79 years, 2 months, and 11 days.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Andrew E. Koehn, five children, two sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, 34 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, one sister Mrs. Decker, of Canton, Kansas, and two brothers, Cornel. Koehn of Goltry and Ben. Koehn, of Taloga, Okla. Four grandchildren, one brother and one sister preceded him in death.

The funeral took place on Febr. 22 in the Mennonite church at Goltry, Okla. with Rev. H. T. Neufeld and Rev. H. N. Harder officiating.