Koehn, Julia (Mentzel) 1856 - 1928

KOEHN, MENTZEL, DIERS

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 4/24/2020 at 11:55:10

Clayton County Register, Thur., 26 July 1928. Pg. 8.

The community suffered a distinct shock in the news of the sudden death of Mrs. Henry Koehn at her home on Friday, July 20th, 1928, at 10:15 o'clock in the evening, at the age of 71 years, ten months and five days.

While she had suffered severely especially during the past year, the end came suddenly and unexpectedly. She had gone about her usual household duties that morning, without any outward indication of physical ailment; but at about ten o'clock suffered a stroke which ended in death twelve hours later.

Mrs. Koehn, nee Julia Mentzel, was born in Garnavillo, Iowa, on September 15th, 1856, as the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mentzel. several years later her parents moved on a farm in Cox Creek township where the family home remained until the death of Mr. Charles Mentzel.

At this place, on Sunday, September 25, 1881, she was united in marriage to Henry Koehn, of Elkader, Iowa. The early years of their married life were spent at the "Corners," about three miles south of Elkader. In 1893 they moved to Elkader, which has been their home since.

To this union were born four sons, Karl, of St. Paul, Minn., Oscar and Max, of San Francisco, Calif., and Arnold, who died in early infancy

Of the immediate family, the husband, three sons and two sisters, Miss Martha Mentzel and Mrs. Fred Diers, both of Madison, Nebr., are left to mourn the loss of a beloved wife, mother and sister.

Mrs. Koehn was a charter member of the Royal Neighbors, and a devoted member of the Friedens Evangelical church and the Frauen-Verein.

A saintly character has passed on to her reward. Quiet and unassuming, her time and her efforts were turned to serve others, rather than to think of herself.

Her home was her castle, where she loved and was ever ready to welcome and to visit with those many good and sincere friends, who were drawn into her circle of her acquaintance by that lovable and sincere spirit of comradeship, that guided and blessed all her actions. "Experience" teaches that friends, after all, are divine gifts, and like all God's handiwork, cannot be made, bought or bargained for. When we are worthy of them, they come into our lives unsought.

She will be missed. But we are greatly comforted by the consciousness, that although her mortal remains have passed out of sight, her beautiful influence for the good will stand as a memorial in the years to come.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon, July 25th, at the late home and the Evangelical church, Rev. C. H. Franke officiating. interment was made in the East Side Cemetery, at the side of her baby boy.