Thomas Lloyd Koehn was born to Henry A. and Susie (Kahn) Koehn October 14, 1930, in Grant County.
He quietly passed away January 5, 2026, surrounded by his family, reaching 95 years of age.
Dad was the first of 11 children. When he was only four years old, he, along with his two-year-old brother, Bob, and six-month-old sister, Juanita, lost their mother, leaving Grandpa Henry with three motherless children. Adeline Koehn became their loving mother January 20, 1935.
During a set of revival meetings in 1945, Dad and his brother, Bob, both showed their decision to serve God, and June 3, 1945, they were baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, by minister Albert Unruh. He was faithful to these vows until the end.
We remember Dad as a man of integrity, conviction, and principle. He was keenly aware of his failings and his need of a Saviour. He taught us by example the language of genuine compassion and forgiveness. He had a quiet strength that undergirded us in the storms of life. He made worshipping with God's people a priority.
Dad was drafted in 1953, and went to Larned, Kan., for his 1W service, working in the dairy division of the Larned State Hospital. While there, he married our mother, Bernice Redger, November 20, 1953. Mom immediately became the cook for the rest of the boys in service. While there, their first son, Everett, was born. After giving their time in service, Dad moved his little family to a small house a mile east of the Ryus carbon black plant. Then, in 1957, they moved to the farm we all remember as the home place. Here, four more children were born: Ronnie, who lived only a few hours, La Donna, Calvin, and Darvin.
Our mother, Bernice, passed away in September 1999, just as fall harvest was starting. Our neighbors pulled their combines into Dad’s fields and finished his harvest. Dad’s faith and joy were put to the test, but he faithfully carried on with life. Three years later, he found someone to love and share life with, and July 28, 2002, he married Miss Ruth Toews in Scio, Ore. She completely embraced life on the plains of Kansas, Dad’s family became hers, and her family became his. Mom Ruth enriched Dad’s life as they lived, loved, and served in so many ways: traveling, hosting family gatherings, and opening their home in hospitality, to name just a few.
Dad's upbringing through the Dirty Thirties impacted his entire life. He was frugal and found it hard to throw things away. He was often found with a shovel in his hand. He was known to take on trenching projects by hand with his special shovel. The grandchildren remember him working by the sweat of his brow. Dad found great satisfaction in growing crops. He was content with what God gave him, and found joy in sharing. The spiritual and natural well-being of all of us children and grandchildren was important to him. We knew that Dad prayed for each one of us in our need. We loved his heartfelt prayers with a hearty “Amen” at the end.
There was yet one more great sorrow in Dad’s life. In 2014, his only daughter, LaDonna, passed away. Surely today they are rejoicing together.
In 2020, Dad and Mom Ruth sold the farmhouse to a grandson and moved to a small retirement home in East Hickok. They enjoyed life here for four years. His next move was to Bethel Home and Mom Ruth to a nearby apartment. We are deeply grateful to the Bethel Home staff for the excellent care they gave him.
We will all miss the loving husband, kind father, caring grandpa, and gracious friend he was to all of us, and hope to meet him again.
He leaves his wife, Ruth; sons: Everett and Gail, Ulysses, Calvin and Debra, Thomas, Okla.; Darvin and Lisa, Satanta, Kan.; son-in-law Tony and Adrienne Wedel, Texhoma, Texas; 19 grandchildren, and 49 great-grandchildren; brothers: Glen, Russell and Winona, and Dale and MaryBeth; sisters: Inez Yost, JoAnn and Milton Nichols, and Deloris Giesbrecht; in-laws: Elva Koehn, Ben and Joyce Jantz, and his beloved Redger and Toews family.
He was predeceased by his parents and stepmother; first wife, son, daughter, grandson, brother, and three sisters.
Visitation was from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Saturday, January 10, at Garnand Funeral Home in Ulysses.
Funeral service took place at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, January 11, at Grant Mennonite Church in rural Grant County, with Ministers: Stuart Jantzen, Daniel Schmidt, Ron Ensz and Karlan Koehn officiating.
Interment followed at Grant Mennonite Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be given to Sleepy Creek Boys Camp in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave, Ulysses, KS 67880.
Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.
