Montezuma - Our dear mom and grandma, Julia (Jul) Koehn Nightengale, was born to Jonas and Sophie (Giesel) Koehn on August 19, 1933, in Canton, Kansas. She quietly left to be with Jesus on April 21, 2023, at Garden City, Kansas, reaching the age of 89 years. She lived a full and active life until the day she passed.

Mom was the oldest child in a family of eight children. At the age of 10, her family moved to Western Kansas. She received her schooling at Garfield School in Canton, Kansas, and Independence School in Sublette, Kansas. Feeling her need of a Savior, she gave her heart to God and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, on May 3, 1949, by Min. Vernon Nightengale. She remained faithful to God and these vows until she was called home.

Mom married our dad Bob Nightengale on April 19, 1959, at Montezuma, KS, in a double wedding ceremony with Errol and Mae Wedel. After they married, they gave to the 1W service in Denver, Colorado, where they forged lifelong friendships. She and Dad lived a life of adventures, living in different places and making many friends. Their time at Sheridan, Wyoming, and Pincher Creek, Alberta, were special to them. While living at Pincher Creek, Dad and Mom had the wonderful opportunity to adopt us, Marshall and Jackie.

As a young family, we moved to Copeland, Kansas, where Mom enjoyed raising her family. In later years, Dad and Mom moved to Center, Colorado, where Mom became the heart of their baking and catering business. This began Mom's legendary pie baking passion. Wanting to spend more time with family, Mom and Dad moved to Kansas where they joined us on many adventures. Mom became a favorite at the local cafe where she baked pies. After Dad passed away in 2017, Mom spent lots of time with her sister, Juanita.

Mom loved life and was independent. Some of the highlights were shopping, eating out, and visiting on the phone with her children and grandchildren. Sewing was something she loved, and she was always smartly dressed. One of our most treasured memories of our mom and grandma was her connection with God. She was a true prayer warrior.

Treasuring her memory are her son, Marshall and wife Julie of Parma, Idaho, and daughter Jackie of Carson City, Michigan; six grandchildren, Austin, Lauren (Philip) Potgieter, Arianna, Cheyenne (Morgan) Bronson, Dillon (Renae) Koehn, and Madison; three great grandchildren, Lakelynn, Max, and Brett; two sisters, Juanita Ensz of Montezuma, Kansas, and Jane (Ray) Nikkel of Pincher Creek, Alberta; five brothers, Granville (Dorothy) Koehn of Scott City, Kansas, John (Valetta) Koehn, Andy Koehn, and Emery (Helen) Koehn, all of Sublette, Kansas, Dennis (Jolene) Koehn of Texline, Texas; in-laws, Kenneth (LaDean) Nightengale, Devern (Jeanette) Nightengale, all of Montezuma, Kansas; Geneva Nightengale, of Macon, Mississippi, Letha (Gene) Loewen of Willows, California; special friends, Mark and Rhoda Koehn and family of Center, Colorado, and Bruce and Sidra Smith and family of Montezuma, Kansas; and many special nieces and nephews. Those meeting her on the other side are her husband, Bob; son-in-law, Andy; her parents and parents-in-law; one brother-in-law; and one sister-in-law.

A special thanks to her brother Emery and Helen Koehn; nephew Jerry and Debby Ensz; and the Bruce Smith family, for their special care and love shown to Mom.

Funeral service will be held at Salem Mennonite Church, Copeland on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow at Salem Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Montezuma on Monday, April 24, 2023 from noon to 5:00 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