Montezuma - Our father, grandfather, and great grandfather, Lee Koehn, was born to Joe and Ida (Dirks) Koehn on April 24,1927. He was the sixth child in a family of eight. He left this old earth in the early evening hours of December 18, 2024. He was 97 years old.

Dad's life was spent in Gray County, Kansas. His earliest years were in rural Cimarron, then in 1938 his family moved to the Salem Valley community north of Copeland. He completed his formal education and graduated from East Banner School. He worked on the family farm during his youth years until being called in for 1-W service. Dad rode the train to Placerville, California where he worked for the U.S. Forest Service until his release a year and a half later. This experience fostered in him a love for nature and the outdoors.

Dad was converted and baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite on May 2,1949 at Copeland, KS. Three weeks later, on May 20,1949, he was united in marriage to Viola Smith by Minister Vernon Nightingale at the Salem Valley Church. Two sons, Stanley and Jim, completed the family. Mom and Dad enjoyed fifty-nine years together before Mom left us in 2008. Dad missed Mom greatly and spoke of her often.

As an adult, Dad was employed in grain elevator and feed mill work along with carpentry. His later working life was spent at the local hardware and lumber yard in Montezuma. He retired from the hardware at age sixty-two and then worked part time helping Jantz Seeds with deliveries. Several life experiences had a profound impact on Dad. He lost his father to cancer in his early teens and felt responsible to help support his family even after he was married. While living north of Copeland they experienced the dust bowl days. He was just down the road with some of his siblings when a tornado destroyed the family farm. The only building left standing was a wash house with a basement where the remainder of the family had taken shelter.

Dad spent many years as a church usher and took the job seriously. He believed in respectful and diligent service.

Grandpa Lee enjoyed hunting, fishing, and family camping trips to Gunnison, Colorado. Fall deer season was especially significant in his life. Our entire family has found fulfillment in being left a legacy of responsible outdoor recreation. His two grandchildren and their spouses were very important to him. In later years his six great-grandsons and their activities were of special interest.

Lee is survived by his two sons, Stan and Char, Montezuma, KS and Jim and DeAnn, Delta, CO; one grandson, Aaron and Tam, West Point, MS; and one granddaughter, Larisa and Jefferson Smith, Montezuma, KS; six great-grandsons; one great-granddaughter-in-law; and his sister Kathi Becker, Moundridge, KS. He was predeceased by his wife, his parents and parents-in-law, two brothers, and four sisters.

Funeral service will be held at Homeland Mennonite Church, Montezuma on Monday, December 23, 2024 at 10:30 AM with Ministers Donnie Koehn and Lyndon Toews presiding. Burial will follow at Homeland Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Montezuma on Sunday, December 22, 2024 from noon to 3:00 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.