Koehn, Tobias J. (1893-1966)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1966 Nov 17 p. 12

Birth date: 1893 Jun 2

text of obituary:

TOBIAS J. KOEHN

Tobias J. Koehn, son of Jacob and Amalia Deckert Koehn, was born June 2, 1893 on the parental homestead two and one-half miles south of Dolton, S. D. Here he grew to manhood. His life's vocation was farming.

He received careful Christian instruction from his parents. By faith, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour, and upon confession of his faith was baptized by the late Elder Derk Tieszen in 1914 and accepted into the Bethesda Mennonite Church, Marion, S. D.

On Aug. 5, 1923, he was united in holy wedlock to Emma J. Schmidt, daughter of the late Jacob J. and Caroline Buller Schmidt. Together they shared life's problems, joys, and the blessings of God for 43 years. To this union were born three sons and one daughter.

Although father's formal educational advantages were limited, he did have the grace and gift to visit the sick and sing for them, many of whom were hardly acquaintances. He also enjoyed attending funeral services, even though not within the immediate community.

Together with his wife, he attended the Mennonite World conference at Kitchener, Ontario in 1962. He had similar plans to attend the Eighth Mennonite World Conference at Amsterdam, Holland in 1967.

Father always enjoyed good health, but in November 1965 he entered the McKennen [sic McKennan] Hospital in Sioux Falls and received x-ray treatments. In March 1966 he underwent surgery and was declared to be cancerous. On Sept. 30, 1966, he was transferred to that eternal rest which remaineth for the children of God. He reached the age of 73 years, three months and 28 days.

He was preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters.

He leaves to mourn his departure, his wife Emma; three sons, Albert and Willie, both of Marion, and Victor of Oxford, Ohio; one daughter Ruth (Mrs. Don Harrison) of Vermillion, S. D.; three daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, eight grandchildren, one brother Jacob, and one sister, Lena, both of Freeman, S. D.

The Mennonite obituary: 1966 Oct 25 p. 651