Koehn, Jacob H. (1889-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Mar 8 p. 8

Birth date: 1889 Sep 7

text of obituary:

JACOB KOEHN

Jacob Koehn was born on Sept. 7, 1889, and passed away to St. Michaels Hospital at Tyndall, S. D. on Feb. 11, 1956. Death came as a welcome relief from the suffering and lingering illness of cancer. He reached the age of 66 years, five months and four days.

He was born on a farm south of Avon as the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry H. Koehn. While very young the family moved to Tyndall and then to a farm in Charles Mix County, but returned again to the community south of Avon. There Jacob attended rural school and grew up in the Friedensberg Mennonite Church and Sunday School Upon confession of his faith he was baptized and received as a member of the church in 1909. He loved the Lord and manifested that love in all his dealings with his friends and neighbors.

From youth on he made farming his career, taking over all the work while his father held public office.

In 1915 he was married to Miss Lulu Lidtke of Avon and then took over the farm when his parents moved to town. Six children were born into this home. During their 41 years of home life together they endured all the hardships and struggles common to a farm family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and one grandson. Those remaining to mourn his passing are his wife Lulu; children, Gladys, Theodore and Bernice (Mrs. Albert Ratzlaff) of Avon, Melvin of Sioux Falls, LeRoy and Maynard of Denver, Colo.; eight grandchildren; one brother, Fred; and one sister Mabel (Mrs. Agner Bach) of Avon.

Brief funeral services were held at the home and at the Friedensburg Mennonite Church of Avon, S. D. on Wednesday, Feb. 15,1956. Comforting words from I John 3:1-3 were spoken by Rev. Ed Duerksen of Butterfield, Minn., his former pastor. Rev. Emil Krahn added some noteworthy words of admonishment based on Luke 13:1-5 and Isaiah 4:3. Music was furnished by the quartet singing "The lights of Home" and "Dearer Than All."

Interment was made in the Friedensberg Mennonite Cemetery.

The Mennonite obituary: 1956 Mar 13 p. 182