Montezuma - Irene (Unruh) Koehn, our dear sister and aunt, was born to Lincoln and Elda Unruh on August 18, 1925, with the help of Grandma Lena in Haskell County, Kansas. She passed away Sunday, October 27, 2024, at Bethel Home, Montezuma, at the age of ninety-nine.

Irene enjoyed her childhood with her twin sister, Lorene. They enjoyed many games together and going to Colusa School. The school was new then, which did much to contribute to their excitement. She completed her education there. She met the Lord at the age of thirteen and was baptized on January 31, 1939, into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite by Minister Harry Wenger. She was faithful to her vows unto the end. As Lorene, Irene also helped many in her teen years.

Because Abe, Lorene's husband to be, was an uncle to Paul, Irene met the love of her life; and they were married in a double marriage ceremony on November 5, 1944, by Vernon Nightengale. Under CPS, they worked on a dairy farm in Wisconsin before being transferred to Hill City, South Dakota. After they were released in 1946, they returned to Galva and purchased a small farm. She cooked at Harmony School which created friendships that followed her even back to Western Kansas. Her life was full of many challenges and fulfillment when Paul joined his friends in a custom harvest crew in 1950. This crew traveled from Southern Oklahoma to Northern Nebraska. She was required to cook meals and do laundry for the many crew members .They continued this work for thirty years. Later, to support their income, she needed to clean homes, banks, and other businesses which kept her very busy. Irene was not privileged to have any children of her own, but she mothered many as her own. She had a special relationship with her nephew Pete and Ila Wedel and their girls, Sheila and Karla.

She lost her husband, Paul, in December of 2007. She then moved to an apartment at Bethel Home to live with her twin sister, Lorene. She enjoyed her life and friends at Bethel Home. In return, they loved and appreciated her. She retained her sense of humor unto the end.

She is survived by her siblings: Leslie Unruh of Copeland, Kansas; Celesta Koehn, Norman Unruh, Nora Friesen, all of Brooksville, Mississippi; Charles Unruh of Ulysses, Kansas; Delbert Unruh (Lillian), of Scio, Oregon; Ladean Nightengale (Kenneth), Montezuma, Kansas; Geneva Nightengale of Brooksville, Mississippi; Arnold Unruh and Berniece Koehn of Copeland, Kansas; sisters-in-law, Bertha Unruh (Orlan) of Derby, Kansas; Fern Unruh (Gary) of Copeland, Kansas; and a host of nieces and nephews whom she loved. She is preceded in death by her parents, Lincoln and Elda, her husband, Paul, her brothers Marvin, Ezra, Orlan, Gary, and her sisters, Elsie and Lorene, a special niece, Connie, and several sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws.

A special thanks to Bethel Home for the loving care given to Irene in her latter years was expressed by the family.

Funeral service will be held at Lone Tree Mennonite Church, Galva on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow at the Lone Tree Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel of Montezuma on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  Memorials are suggested to Bethel Home in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.