Robert Loyd Koehn was born August 29, 1922 to John and Lygia Nightingale Koehn at McPherson County. Dad left us for his eternal home in the evening hours on October 16, 2020 at age 98 in Bethel Home, Montezuma.  Until the last few months, Dad enjoyed good health. He passed away from complications due to old age.

Dad was the fourth of nine children.  In 1928 when he was 6 years old, he moved with his parents to a farmhouse 4 ½ miles south of Greensburg on highway 183.He attended rural schools and one year of high school in Kiowa County. He became a farm laborer in his teenage years and kept the love of farming throughout his life. He accepted the Lord as his personal Savior and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite on October 10, 1937 by Minister Frank Haynes.  Life was not always easy, but he was faithful to his vows to the end.

Dad married our mother Lois Koehn on February 9, 1947.  They enjoyed 59 years together. To this union were born six children, three sons and three daughters. Dad and Mom lived their married life in the Greensburg community except for a short time in Crowley, Colorado. In the 50's he worked with an elevator construction crew.  He helped to construct five area elevators.In 1961 he started to work for the Kiowa County Highway Department retiring after 30 years at age 70.  They moved into Greensburg in 1990 enjoying 16 years together. After retirement Dad and Mom enjoyed distributing tracts in Greensburg and the area communities of Mullinville and Bucklin.  After moving to Bethel Home, a highlight for him was when a group gathered to put tracts together.

Mom passed away in 2006 leaving Dad very lonely.  In May of 2007, a tornado destroyed their home. At age 86, he built a new home under the direction of Mennonite Housing. He enjoyed working on the house with the help of volunteers from across the nation. He often ate his noon meals at the Senior Center with his friends of the community. After moving to Bethel Home, he enjoyed an occasional visit back to the Center. In 2014, Dad moved to an apartment in Bethel Home and in 2018 moved into full care.  Dad was thankful for his family, especially so in his later years, wishing all his children lived close so they could visit often.

Dad worked hard for many years to provide for us, often working late into the evenings. We sensed that the difficult experience of losing both Mom and his home in a short period of time brought about a mellowing and a sincerity of spirit. His personal time of prayer was important to him.  Asking to pray together was one of the last requests he made.  We rest in knowing that he is with the Lord.

Those left with cherished memories are, his children, Roberta and Ron Seiler, Richard, Ron and Paula, of Greensburg, Kansas; Connie and Luther Smith, Montezuma, Kansas; Cheryl and Randy Koehn Hardin, Montana; Marshal and Carey, Albuquerque, New Mexico; one brother, Sylvan, Newport News, Virginia; brother-in-law, Vern Koehn, Glendale, California; sisters-in-law, Eunice Wadel and Norma Koehn, Greensburg, Kansas; fifteen grandchildren, and nineteen great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife, four brothers, three sisters, and one infant great-grandson.

Funeral service will be held at Bethel Mennonite Church, Greensburg on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 10:30 AM with Ministers Mark Dirks and Rod Nace presiding. Burial will follow at Bethel Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be at Bethel Mennonite Church on Monday October 19, 2020 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Gospel Tracts, Bethel Home, or Kiowa County Senior Center in care of Swaim Funeral Chapel - PO Box 421 - Montezuma, Kansas 67867. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.