Montezuma - Our mother and grandmother, Lillian Josephine (Unruh) Koehn, was born to Abe J. and Lizzie (Unruh) Unruh on May 21, 1918 in Canton and passed on August 10, 2013 in Montezuma, reaching the age of 95 years.

Mom was an independent woman, a "get it done", "no frills" type of person. She saw a wide range of changes in her lifetime, from spring wagons and model T's to four-wheel tractors and computers. Lillian was raised during the depression, when times were hard, but remembered never feeling they were poor. She spoke only plaut dietsch when she began first grade at the Homestead Country School near Montezuma. After completing eight grades there, she then attended the Hillsboro Bible Academy to complete her education.

She was a woman who loved her family and was glad when everyone was gathered around her table. She enjoyed her grandchildren, especially in her later years at Bethel Home. Mom was known for her ability to keep the extended family together through letters and phone calls.

Lillian made lovely quilts and had an eye for combining colors. She was frugal enough to use her scraps, rarely buying new material. She enjoyed reading, word puzzles, and Scrabble. Mom found satisfaction in going to sewing, being on book committees, teaching at Bible School, and teaching Sunday School. She was a friendly person, who enjoyed visiting with people. In later years, she regretted her loss of hearing, feeling that it kept her from a full enjoyment of life.

She was baptized on December 20, 1935 at the Montezuma Mennonite Church by Minister F.H. Wenger, becoming a member of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, a faith she embraced to the end. She was joined in marriage to John R. Koehn on May 21, 1946. They lost an eighteen month old daughter, Lorna, to drowning. This was a hard time for mom. Our parents developed a special closeness during the years they were in the apartment and in full care at Bethel Home. Mom missed Dad after his death on August 29, 2009, often expressing a desire to be with him again. They had been married over 63 years. During her time at Bethel Home, she often expressed that "I try to keep myself ready" and was faithful about praying for us.

She is survived by five children; one daughter, Phyllis Nightengale and husband Frank of Fairview, Oklahoma, four sons, John Mark Koehn and wife Phyllis, Tony Koehn and wife Marsha, Ross Koehn and wife Sherry, and Reed Koehn and wife Terry all of Montezuma; one sister, Inez Unruh of Greely, Colorado; two brothers, David R. Unruh and wife Julie of Montezuma and Frank Unruh of Phoenix, Arizona; 13 grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren, and friends and relatives. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John; a daughter, Lorna Koehn; three brothers, Vernon, John B., and Robert Unruh; one sister, Ruby Koehn; one granddaughter, Brittney Koehn; and a daughter-in-law, Delores Koehn.

Funeral service will be held at Montezuma Mennonite Church on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at 10:30 A.M. with Ministers Charles Schmidt, Kalvin Salsbury, and Edwin Classen presiding. Burial will follow at Montezuma Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel of Montezuma on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. and at Bethel Home in Montezuma from 4:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. 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.