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John Maynard Koehn
November 23, 2024
John Maynard Koehn was born on April 7, 1944, in Turlock, California to John B. and Susan Regher Koehn, the fourth of eight children. He peacefully passed away on November 14, 2024, at Oakwood Manor in Brooksville, Mississippi reaching the age of 80 years. His passing was a result of two strokes. Dad spent his childhood years on his dad’s farms around Winton and Atwater, California. He had many stories to tell of those years, even talking of a time when he saved his older brother’s life in the irrigation canal.
Dad did a lot of hard manual labor, milking cows, doing custom haying, and helping his dad in the almond and peach orchards and vineyards, where he acquired a lifelong love for fruits and nuts.
Dad attended school in the Merced County School District completing the ninth grade. He talked of being taken out of school many times to help on the farm. Dad answered the call of the Lord at the age of thirteen and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite in Winton, California, on February 14, 1958, by Minister Edward Jantz. He remained faithful to these vows until the Lord called Him Home.
Dad left home and California at the age of 21, going to 1W Service in Denver where he made lifelong friends and fell in love with Colorado. He often talked of his time in service working at the hospital. After leaving 1W Service he went to Walnut Hill, Florida to marry our mother, Brooxene Sigafoose. They were married on March 22, 1968, by Minister Francis Peters and enjoyed life together for 56 years.
Our parents made their home and started their family in the Windsor, Colorado area. Dad was a farmer all his life starting out in Greeley together with his brother-in-law Orlan Koehn. There he farmed in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, irrigating sugar beets and corn with siphon tubes. They enjoyed 14 years in Colorado after which they moved in 1979 to Walnut Hill, Florida and bought a farm in Canoe, Alabama. Dad reared us children on the farm, gladly helping us boys to get started in farming and taking an interest in our crops and ambitions. He was disappointed to have to make his last move to Oakwood during harvest time.
Dad had a love for singing and would often ask us to sing together as a family, becoming a Sunday school chorister at 16, and a song leader for many years. He also enjoyed leading the Bible school singing. He and his siblings did a lot of singing together and later he was part of a quartet in Walnut Hill. We children have many fond memories of those evenings spent singing together.
Dad and Mom would talk about a time in their life of a recommitment to the Lord, and clear direction to remain faithful to the church. We as a family are very thankful for this. Dad often encouraged us as a family to live for the Lord.
Dad was a generous person,” who loved to pick up the tab”. He gave readily to CDR, often leaving his work, always ready to help those in need; and the Lord blessed his willingness to give. Earthly possessions were not his focus, and he was willing to live with less.
Dad and Mom opened their home many times through the years to different ones that needed a place to live, making a difference in their lives, and forming lifelong friendships.
In April of 2022 Dad and Mom went to live in Sage Crest Retirement Home in Buhl, Idaho to be near Mom’s niece Emily Peaster, to whom we are grateful for her loving care and medical advice.
In August of 2023 they moved back to care homes in Atmore, Alabama, until it opened up for them to move to Oakwood Retirement Village, just a few short enjoyable weeks ago. We appreciate the wonderful care team at Oakwood. Cherishing many memories are his loving wife, Brooxene , of Oakwood, four children, Mike and Sharla, Eraina and Chad Nickel, Eric and Jamie, all of Walnut Hill, and Jennifer of Stapleton, Georgia. Eleven grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren all of whom have a special place in his heart and he in theirs; siblings: Bill and Viola Koehn, Jane Giesbrecht, Grace and Orlin Koehn, Cornelia and Calvin Smith, Cynthia and Les Koehn, Faith and Bruce Farkas; sister-in-law: Jackie Koehn; Preceding him in death were his parents, stepmother Katherine Martens Koehn, one older brother, and one brother -in-law. Through the years numerous other family friends called him Dad and Grandpa. He will be missed by his family and friends in the community, including a special farming friend, Wiley Farrar from Canoe, Alabama. We as a family are grateful to all those who cared for him and appreciate all the prayers and kind words during this time.
Funeral Services were held Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at Southern Harbor Mennonite Church in Davisville, FL.
Interment was in Walnut Hill Memorial Gardens in Walnut Hill, FL.
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