Gary Lynn Koehn, of Scotia, loved Husband, Dad, and Grandpa, left us June 11, 2021, at the age of 66 years old in his home surrounded by his family. He had bravely fought a 2 ½ year battle with Multiple Myeloma.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at the Cedar Hills Church east of Scotia, Nebraska. Burial will be in the Cedar Hills Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Cedar Hills Church. Memorials are suggested to the Scotia Rescue Squad. Ord Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Gary was born December 9, 1954, to Ervie and Helen (Fricke) Koehn in Garden City, Kansas. He was part of a large family and received his early education in Ingalls, Kansas.
On January 29, 1967, Gary was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite by Minister John Nightingale, at Copeland Kansas. Gary loved to read in the book of Psalms, particularly the 23rd Psalm. He loved his church and was faithful unto the end. He often reminded us “Keep the Faith”.
The Ervie Koehn family moved to Pincher Creek, Alberta in 1971. There, Gary met the love of his life, Virginia Jantzen, during a camping trip. They were married less than a year later at Glenn, California on March 30, 1975, and enjoyed just over 46 years together. They made their home together in a little house in Pincher Creek, Alberta where three girls were born. Dad attended Mechanical Trade School in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Dad and Mom, together with their girls, moved to Ingalls, Kansas in 1981, where Dad farmed, and worked in a mechanic shop. After a while, he was excited to open his own mechanic business in the sandhills of Kansas. Here two boys were born.
Farming followed the mechanic shop business. Dad & Mom worked hard. Dad was always happy to have us children helping him with disking, changing water on the fields, rogueing beans, pulling tumble weeds out of fence rows, and working cattle.
Dad always had dreams of moving to a small congregation. Meanwhile, a congregation, Cedar Hills, was beginning in central Nebraska. In 1994, we were the 11th family to join. We remember the good times socializing with new friends.
Dad first farmed in Nebraska, then started his trucking company, Koehn Trucking Inc. Jon joined the trucking industry alongside Dad in 2009, making many fond memories with Dad on the road. Dad drove truck for 20 years making many lasting friendships with all he met on the road until September of 2020, when Dad and Mom, together with Jon, made his last long haul.
Dad’s family grew with new children and grandchildren, and he was up to the challenge of being a Grandpa. His grandchildren will deeply miss their ‘Papa Gary’. They benefited from his candy stash, and spent many hours playing checker games in the evenings. McDonalds was a favorite outing for Papa and grandkids alike.
Camping, fishing, and pheasant hunting were favorite hobbies. Dad, Jon, and Jethro went to Lake McConaughy after Dad’s diagnosis. A healthy string of fish was caught, and the boys still treasure the memory of that Father’s Day weekend.
At the various places he resided and during his cancer journey, Dad made many lasting friendships. He had a kind and caring heart. His humor and pranks brightened many lives. All of us as a family were blessed by his love of buying gifts.
Those left with precious memories are his dear wife, Virginia; and children, Sherri Koehn and fiancé, Luke Woolsey, Michelle and Darcen Boeckner, Ranae and Michael Jantz, Jon and Jen, Jethro and Jill; and thirteen grandchildren all of Scotia Nebraska.
He is also survived by his mother, Helen Koehn of Montezuma, Kansas; siblings, Doug and Cindy, Pincher of Creek, Alberta, Verle and Ev, of Potlatch, Idaho, Cheryl and Dennis Unruh of Hartley, Texas, Karen of Montezuma, Kansas, Lindale and Glenda of Charlo Montana, Janelle and Charles Koehn of Bartlesville Oklahoma, Kyle of Roger, Arkansas, and Lisa and Michael Unruh of Windsor, Colorado; mother-in law, Pauline Jantzen; in-laws, Rod & Kathy Jantzen, Dan & Cheryl Jantzen, John Jantzen Jr., Rachel and Dennis Unruh, Evangela and Sherwin Dueck, Priscilla Jantzen, and Rosetta Jantzen; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ervie; father-in-law, Johnny Jantzen; and brother-in-law, Lynn Koehn.
Comments