Montezuma- My dear wife, our mother and grandmother, Karen Jolene (Ensz) Koehn was born on August 13,1950, in McPherson, to Rueben and Margaret Ensz. After bravely battling brain cancer for a year, she heard the call for supper time in Heaven and peacefully left us on June 8, 2018.

Mom grew up on a farm a few miles north east of Windom. She enjoyed her school days, attending Windom Public School for her first eight grades and her freshman year at Little River. She was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite at Inman, on April 28, 1963, by Minister Abe Nikkel and was faithful to those vows until the end. She was joined in marriage to me, Kenneth Koehn, on May 28, 1972. We shared life's joys and sorrows for forty-six years.

Mom was a quiet, steady presence in our lives, caring for us and doing her best to keep us constructively busy. We remember her baking cinnamon rolls for our local convenience store and how the customers enjoyed them. She wanted chores for us children and got us a job delivering newspapers. Cleaning school was another chore she had us help her with, going faithfully after school hours for many years. As we children grew up and got our own jobs, she switched to housekeeping in Bethel Home. Mom worked part time for 17 years up until her cancer diagnosis. Bethel Home became a part of her life, and she enjoyed it very much.

We remember Mom sitting at her sewing desk with her Bible open, having devotions. She enjoyed sewing in her spare time, and we daughters were the fortunate recipients many times. She was such a generous person, taking food and pies whenever there was a need. Visiting her mother was something Mom and Dad enjoyed doing, spending quality time with her. They also took numerous trips with her along. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and reading stories to them.

The news of her diagnosis was a real shock to her and us as a family. We, along with her, asked "Why?" As we cared for her and walked the journey with her, we enjoyed many good times, such as meal times together and sitting and visiting about the happenings of the day. One highlight this past summer was going to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, for a family reunion. Mom patiently endured her suffering, leaving us an example. We rest that it is not ours to understand but give it to God who does.

Those left to cherish precious memories are her husband Ken, one son, Preston and wife Michelle, Grand View, Idaho; two daughters, Kara and husband Jerrell Nichols; Renee and husband Sidney Schmidt, all of Montezuma; ten grandchildren, Ryan, Amber and Chad Koehn, Dylan, Dustin, and Aubree Nichols, and Becky, Anthony, Courtney, and Logan Schmidt; her mother, Margaret Ensz, Inman; four brothers, Galen (Twyla) Ensz, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, Richard (Deanna) Ensz, Windom, Keith (Linda) Ensz, and Harlin (Laurie) Ensz, Inman. She was preceded in death by her father, Rueben Ensz, her parents-in-law, three brothers-in-law and three sisters-in-law.

Funeral service will be held at the Montezuma Mennonite Church on Tuesday June 12, 2018 at 10:30 AM with Ministers Charles Schmidt, Kalvin Salsbury, and Craig Koehn presiding. Burial will follow at Montezuma Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Montezuma on Monday June 11, 2018 from Noon to 5:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of the Prairie in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.