Koehn, John A. (1885-1966)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1966 May 5 p. 3

Birth date: 1885 Dec 23

text of obituary:

Pioneer in Mission Efforts Called by Death at Montezuma

Montzuma, Kan. — Rev. John A. Koehn, 80, widely known retired minister of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, died Monday at his home here after a long illnes.

Rev. Koehn was instrumental in establishing the church's extensive mission program in Mexico and also pioneered in mission efforts elsewhere. He was the first superintendent of the Bethel Home here when it was established in 1948, and continued in that capacity until his retirement some years ago.

Survivors include his second wife, whom he married in 1961; two daughters and five sons; five brothers; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Among the sons are Rev. Reuben Koehn of Lahoma, Okla., Rev. David Koehn of Montezuma, and Rev. Daniel Koehn in Nigeria.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1966 Jun 9 p. 8

text of obituary:

JOHN A. KOEHN

John A. Koehn was born to Tobias C. and Susanna Koehn on Dec. 23, 1885 near Durham, Kan. and May 22, 1966 at Montezuma, Kan. at the age of 80 years, four months and nine days.

Father was married to Rachel Koehn, our mother, on May 30, 1905, sharing over 50 days together. Mother was taken from him through death in March of 1961. To them were born six sons and four daughters, of which three preceded them in death in infancy.

In 1906 father yielded his life to Christ, and upon true repentance and forgiveness of sins was baptized and received into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, at Fairview, Okla., on June 4, by Min Henry Herr.

Father and mother, along with a few other families moved to Harold [sic Harrold], Texas in 1908, residing there until 1914 when they established a home on the grass lands of Gray County, Kansas. They resided here except for a few years at Gentry, Ark. and several years at Livingston, Calif.

On May 31, 1916 father was elected and ordained by the church to serve in the gospel ministry. In these 50 years he has served in various functions of the church — pastor, evangelist, missionary, and genral inner-church work. He also served as the first supervisor of Bethel Home, Montezuma, for three years.

In 1930 he made his first trip to Mexico, believing that there God wanted to establish a work. This marked the beginning of 18 years of intensive and fruitful labors in Mexico. In the years of retirement he repeatedly expressed his faith in the church and the younger ministers, being confident the Lord's work would continue to prosper.

On Nov. 22, 1961 father married Katherine Nightingale.

Father enjoyed good health, with the exception of the last year. He had not fully recovered from injuries received in a car accident a little more than a year ago, when complications began to develop. He quietly and peacefully fell asleep in death at 12:25 p.m. on May 2.

Surviving are his sorrowing companion: five sons and two daughters; David and wife Clara, of Montezuma, Harry and wife Lorena, Martha and husband Jonas Ratzlaff, and Susanna and husband Melvin Schmidt, all of Livingston, Calif., Daniel and wife Frances and wife Allee of Lahoma, Okla.; and Ernest and wife Gladys of Enid, Okla.; 25 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; five brothers, Abe T. of Winton, Calif., Cornelius T. of Livingston, Calif., Jake T. of Ulysses, Pete T. of Montezuma, and Ben T. of Gentry, Ark.; also a number of nephews, nieces and inlaws [sic]. Preceding him in death were our mother, three children, his parents, one brother, three sisters, one grandchild and one great-grandchild. — The Family.