Our dear mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Wanda Mae (Koehn) Schmidt was born to Emil and Eva (Koehn) Koehn on July 2, 1931 in Montezuma. She peacefully went to her reward after a brief illness on November 26, 2023, reaching the age of 92 years.

Mom grew up on a farm north of Montezuma as the second of seven children. Mom gave her heart to the Lord and was baptized into the church of God in Christ Mennonite on October 22, 1944, by Minister Albert Unruh. She was faithful to her vows and left us an example of faithfulness.

She worked at Bethel Home for a short time in her teens. It was her greatest pleasure to marry our Dad, Milton Schmidt. They were married on February 4, 1951 by Minister Reuben Koehn and enjoyed 60 years together. They were blessed with one son and two daughters.

Her life was spent as a busy wife and mother and she enjoyed gardening, cooking and sewing and in later years driving out to the farm to see the crops. Her life was fulfilled in many ways, serving on the food committee for years at the Montezuma congregation, also teaching Bible School and Sunday School and serving as Sewing Circle Leader. A little later in life they were privileged to be house parents at a couple CPS boy's units and a highlight was spending several winters in Sarasota, Florida helping out in the mission effort with her brother Minister Wilbur Koehn and wife Laveda.

Family was very important to her and she didn't want to miss a family occasion. She had a knack for buying useful and unique gifts for her family, she especially enjoyed buying for the grandchildren and great grandchildren at Christmas time. Her nieces and nephews held a special place in her heart.

Our parents moved off the farm to a Bethel Home apartment in 2004. While living there Mom made some new friends and enjoyed helping with the different activities including city mix tracts and coffee breaks. She missed Dad greatly when he passed away in 2011. As mother reached the end of her life's journey, we noticed and appreciated the soft quietness we felt.

We as a family are thankful for Bethel Home and the loving care mom received.

Those left to cherish precious memories are one son, Riley and wife Rita, two daughters Janice Koehn and husband James, Louann Koehn and husband Donnie all of Montezuma, Kansas; eight grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren, two brothers, Rodney Koehn and Eldon Koehn and wife Jeanette, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, two infant grandsons, one brother, three sisters, twin infant siblings, one brother-in-law, and two sisters in law.

Funeral service will be held at Homeland Mennonite Church, Montezuma on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 10:30 AM.  Burial will follow at the church cemetery.  Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Montezuma on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 from 10:00 AM 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.