Pete Melvin Koehn

My dear husband and our father, Pete M. Koehn, was born on February 2, 1941, to Henry B. and Nettie E. (Unruh) Koehn near Montezuma, Kansas. He slipped away ever so quietly on January 25, 2023, just shy of his 82nd birthday, at the Maple View Retirement Community near Ithaca, Michigan.

Dad grew up on a farm in southwest Kansas as the 7th in a family of nine children. As a boy, he was a talented artist and loved to play basketball. He accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite in January of 1954. At the age of 19, he re-consecrated his life to the Lord and never wavered from that commitment. He spent two years in 1-W service in Denver, Colorado, where he acquired his love of the mountains. Dad often talked about his service years and the good friendships and memories made during that time.

On April 10, 1966, Dad married our mother, Joyce Schneider. They lived on their farm in Kansas for two years before moving to Greeley, Colorado, in 1968. He worked as a typewriter repairman and later for Kodak as a mechanic. Dad loved his job, but because of a concern for the welfare of raising his two boys in a city setting, they moved to Ithaca, Michigan, in 1976. He was able to fulfill his dream of becoming a farmer when they purchased a farm on Pierce Road, which became the home place. As a way to help make ends meet, Dad took up carpentry and earned the nickname “Picky Pete” because of his meticulous craftsmanship.

One of the greatest sorrows in Dad’s life was the sudden passing of his son Andy in July of 2013. He mourned him deeply and God graciously gave him a vision of Andy and how happy Andy was. He claimed this and thanked God for answering his prayers.

Some of the moments that brought Dad special joy were the 4th of July chicken BBQs- an annual tradition for 39 years; Saturday night pizza shared with family; and tinkering in his shop. Dad was a caring grandpa and was very invested in his grandchildren’s lives. As an avid farmer, he loved planting his fields and watching the crops grow. Mom helped Dad on the farm for many years until he retired for health reasons in 2017.

Dad and Mom moved off the farm in November of 2021 and joined the Maple View Retirement Community. They were always so thankful for the care they received and the love they felt from the caregivers. One week prior to Dad’s passing, God so graciously answered our prayers and gave Dad a vision of Heaven and he shared it with everyone he could. Although he couldn’t really describe the wonders he saw, he said it was beautiful and he wanted to go there. From that moment on, Dad was completely at rest emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically. While our hearts ache at his quiet and peaceful passing, we rejoice that his vision of Heaven became reality. We will miss his gentle, soft- spoken demeanor and kind heart that reached out to others.

Left behind is his wife of 56 years, Joyce; a daughter-in-law, Jackie Koehn, Carson City, Michigan; one son, Greg and wife, Laura, Carson City, Michigan; daughter, Audrey and husband, Jeff Litwiller, Ithaca, Michigan; daughter, Nada and husband, Mike Schrock, Moore, Idaho; 15 grandchildren: Cheyenne (Morgan Bronson), Dillon (Renae), Tori, Madison, Rockie (Laura), Zanna, Amber (Quinton Isaac), Layne, Lee, Brennen, James, Caleb, Lanae, Jace, Drew; three great-grandchildren: Max, Skylar, Brett; his siblings: Henry Koehn, Jr., Montezuma, Kansas; David John Koehn and wife, Janet, Dodge City, Kansas; Betty Rose and husband, Clayton Wiebe, Durham, Kansas; Joyce’s sister Carolyn and husband, Dean Litwiller, Eden, Utah.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Andy; nephews, Brent Litwiller and Bob Koehn; niece, Robin Wedel; two brothers, Robert Koehn and Paul Dean Koehn; three sisters, Violet Schneider, Helen Smith, and Mae Wedel; two sisters-in-law, Betty Mae Koehn and Corrine Koehn; and three brothers-in-law, Earl Schneider, Errol Wedel, and Larry Schneider.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, January 29, 2023, at 10:30 A.M. at the Mt. Calm Mennonite Church with Ministers James Leid, Doug Schneider, and Keith Litwiller officiating. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 2 P.M. to 4 P.M. at the Maple View Retirement Community 4396 S. Luce Road, Ithaca, MI 48847 and from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. at the Mt. Calm Mennonite Church. Burial will take place at the Mt. Calm Mennonite Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Maple View Retirement Community 4396 S. Luce Road, Ithaca, Michigan 48847.

To view Pete’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com.

The family is being served by the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home.