Obituary

Nola Koehn, 91, died on Jan. 10, 2014, at Kidron Bethel in North Newton.

Nola was born on May 26, 1922, in Goessel to Abraham and Elizabeth (Schmidt) Schmidt. On Aug. 19, 1942, she married Ernest H. Koehn at Tabor Mennonite Church in rural Marion County.

Nola worked as a secretary for Midland National Bank for 24 years until her retirement in 1982. She looked forward to meeting with retired friends in Secretaries Club. She thoroughly enjoyed Steve Harper's bus trips across Kansas, feeding her interest in unique sites and facts, and marveling in nature.  Nola was a dedicated homemaker who put her family's needs first. Her culinary and diligent homemaking skills earned the respect of her family, making them feel loved and well-taken care of. Summers were spent tending her garden, a hobby she looked forward to each year.

She is survived by her husband, Ernest Koehn of North Newton; daughters, Iris Strahan of Springfield, Ill., Maureen Fast and husband, Kenneth of Newton; two sisters, Viola Ratzlaff of Goessel and Emma Reimer of Loveland, Colo.; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, Abraham and Elizabeth Schmidt; daughter, Marsha Gwen Koehn; five brothers, Waldo, Philip, Marvin, Harlow and Eldon; and two sisters, Verna Reimer and LuEtta Frey.

Services will be held at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 1:30 p.m. Family will be available for visitation prior to the service from 1 to 1:30 p.m. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery following the service, with a fellowship hour for family and friends at Kidron Bethel Harvest Table.  Memorial established for Mennonite Central Committee and Harry Hynes Hospice.