CIMARRON - Minister Wilbur Koehn.

Our beloved father and grandfather, Wilbur Lewis Koehn was born on November 5, 1929 to Emil P. and Eva (Koehn) Koehn in rural Gray County, Kansas. He quietly and peacefully passed to his eternal reward in the early morning hours of November 24, 2019 at the Bethel Home, Montezuma, Kansas. He reached the age of ninety years.

Dad was the firstborn of seven children. He received his formal education of eight years at Montezuma. His life spanned almost a century. Consequently, the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl during his childhood instilled lessons that lasted a lifetime.

At the tender age of thirteen, Dad heard the call of the Lord, surrendered his will and by faith accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. He was baptized by Minister Albert Unruh on January 14, 1942 into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite. On February 18, 1951 our father married our mother Laveda Koehn. She was his wife of 56 years. Our parents resided in the Montezuma and Copeland communities for a few years and then moved to Cimarron, Kansas, their home for many years. It was here that Minister Reuben J. Koehn ordained Dad to the Gospel Ministry on January 10, 1958. He faithfully fulfilled his baptismal vows until death, his marital covenant until mother passed away and his ministerial commitment until his retirement.

While Dad provided well for us, he gave precedence to the spiritual nurturing of his family and congregation. His demeanor and expression was one of a kind caring shepherd. He served as a pastor for the Denver C.P.S. unit and the Gallup Child Care in New Mexico during the 1960's and early 1970's. His love for the souls of men and the church resulted in him often being involved in the conference revival effort. Furthermore six years of daily intermingling with the plain people in Sarasota, Florida gave Dad and Mom cherished memories to recall the rest of their lives. Later yet in Dad's life, he developed a gift for writing, leaving us with a legacy of understanding God's will more completely.

Though his departure from this earth is a natural part of life, his absence will be a combination of joy, loneliness and sorrow. Those left to treasure memories include: his 6 children, Denton Koehn and wife Maureen, Ulysses, Sanford Koehn and wife Donna, Cimarron, Robert Koehn and wife Ruthie, Emelle, Alabama, Dallas Koehn and wife Linda, Sapello, New Mexico, Barbara Jantzen and husband Mike, Cimarron and Brenda Russell, Cimarron; a daughter-in-law, Jolene Koehn, Montezuma; a son-in-law, Eldon Isaac and wife Marilyn, Ingalls; 2 sisters, Wanda Schmidt and Laura Powell both of Montezuma; 2 brothers, Rodney Koehn and Eldon G. Koehn both of Montezuma; 25 grandchildren and 41 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Laveda on March 31, 2007, a son, Bradley Koehn, a daughter, Sharon Isaac, 2 sisters, Vera Schmidt and Jolene Burns, 5 grandchildren, Marla, Lori and Teresa Koehn and  Reggie and Brock Koehn, and a great granddaughter, Evelyn Koehn.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 am Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at the Church Of God In Christ Mennonite, Cimarron, with Ministers Keith Ensz and Franklin Koehn officiating.  Burial will follow in the Cimarron Cemetery, Cimarron.  Visitation will be Tuesday from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the Bethel Home in Montezuma and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Tuesday at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Cimarron.

The family suggests memorials to Gospel Tract and Bible Society in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 446, Cimarron, Kansas 67835.