Koehn, Nancy Schmidt (1949-2009)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2009 Oct 26 p. 9

Birth date: 1949 Mar 21

text of obituary:

NANCY KOEHN

Nancy Schmidt Koehn, 60, of Cordell, Okla., died Sept. 26, 2009. She was born March 21, 1949, to Louis and Elvera Schmidt in Cordell.

She attended Oklahoma Bible Academy in Meno, where she met her husband-to-be, Robert Koehn, and then attended Southwestern College in Weatherford.

She married Robert Koehn on Aug. 17, 1968. They started their life together in Enid, finishing college at Phillips University with a degree in elementary education. They moved to Elkhart, Ind., where Bob attended Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and she taught fifth grade. After seminary they moved to Reedley, Calif., where Bob ministered at First Mennonite Church from 1974 to 1978. Along with helping Bob at the church, she worked at a day care.

Moving back to Cordell, they started working on the farm. Bob pastored several Cheyenne churches. She taught at Lincoln Elementary in Cordell and earned a master’s degree in elementary counseling. She developed the position of elementary counselor for Cordell Public Schools and continued in that role until her retirement in September 2009.

She was a faithful member of Herold Mennonite Church, where she made her confession of faith and was baptized on June 2, 1963. She served as a Sunday school teacher, education committee member, Christmas program writer and director and in many other positions. She was a member of the education committee for Western District Conference. Probably one of her greatest joys was being a writer for Jubilee Sunday school material and for Venture Clubs.

Survivors include her husband, Robert; her parents, Louis and Elvera Schmidt of Cordell; her mother-in-law, Ruby Koehn of Meno; two sisters, Valora Unruh and her husband, Elroy, of Meno, and Arlene Epp and her husband, David, of Sayre; and 13 nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at the Cordell High School Auditorium. Burial was in the Herold Mennonite Church Cemetery near Bessie.