Montezuma - Our dear mother Tillie (Matilda Ann) Koehn Wedel was born to Joe and Ida Dirks Koehn on September 22, 1923 at Cimarron. God blessed her with ninety-eight years and called her home to be with Daddy on the evening of November 20, 2021.

She was the fifth child in a family of eight children. She received her education from the Cimarron public schools. In her teens she moved with her family to the Copeland community. Shortly after their move, a tornado destroyed part of their home. Her father passed away from cancer when she was seventeen. In her young years, she was a housekeeper for different families in Pierceville and a telephone operator in Copeland.

At the age of sixteen, our mother gave her heart to God and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite, Copeland Congregation by Min. Harry Wenger.

On October 25, 1942, our mother married Eugene Wedel, a special friend, and became his sweetheart for almost seventy-five years. Their union was blessed with four daughters and two sons. They experienced a very traumatic time when their oldest daughter Betty was taken in a tragic automobile accident, fifty-eight years ago on Thanksgiving eve. A couple months later, Daddy was ordained to the office of deaconry, to which mom easily filled her role as a supportive wife in that service. She was chosen to help organize the conference sewing, always willing to serve in her quiet way. Great sorrow came in her later years when Gary, a son-in-law, was suddenly taken.

Our mom had a quiet, contented, submissive spirit that was evident her entire life. She was a kind caring mother and friend to us children, always interested in our cares and struggles. We had a very happy home. Mom was very lonely after Dad's death four years ago and longed to go join him.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children; Fern Unruh and Phyllis (Clayton) Unruh, Copeland, Camilla (Ronald) Nichols, Geiger, Alabama, Richard (Fran) Wedel, Copeland, and Simon(Vicki) Wedel, Guntersville, Alabama; 15 special grandchildren; 42 great grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren; brother, Lee Koehn, Montezuma; and sister, Kathy Becker, Moundridge. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, a daughter, a son-in-law, a grandson, three sisters, and two brothers.

Funeral service will be held at Salem Mennonite Church, Copeland on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at 10:30 AM with Ministers Steve Unruh, Sam Unruh, and Doyle Spence presiding. Burial will follow at Salem Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel of Montezuma on Tuesday November 23, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 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.