Tabea Koehn: 1929-2021
Tabea (Mendel) Koehn was born on Oct. 11, 1929 to David E. Mendel and Marie P. Hofer in Hutchinson County at Freeman, S.D. She attended elementary school at Progressive District #20, but she was not able to go to high school because her mother passed away at a very young age. So, Tabea, at a young age, took over her mother’s responsibility. She helped her father shock grain and pick corn by hand.
Tabea was baptized upon the confession of her faith at Salem M. B. Church and later joined Bethesda Mennonite Church at Marion, S.D.
On May 6, 1951 she married Willie Koehn at the Pioneer Hall at Freeman. They started their married life on a farm near Canistota, S.D. where they lived almost two years. The couple then moved to Marion, where they lived for 61 years. Having celebrated nearly 63 years of married life together her husband, Willie, passed away March 23, 2014.
In their retired years, Willie and Tabea enjoyed traveling on bus trips. Tabea also enjoyed gardening and canning; but most of all, she enjoyed reading books. She read most of the books in the church library. Tabea lived in the Tieszen Memorial Home for almost five years until her death on Feb. 3, 2021.
Tabea was blessed with two sons: Randy (Amy) Koehn and Steve (Lanette) Koehn. She had two grandsons: Clinton (Emily) Koehn and Austin (Sarah) Koehn; two great-grandsons: Tallon (12) and Eli (10); four great-granddaughters: Brenna (6), Brynlee (5), Raegan Jo (3) and Murphy Mae (1). They were the joy of her life!
Left to mourn is her only sister, Myrtle Lundin; sister-in-law, Sylvia Mendel; and brother-in-law Victor (Eloise) Koehn; as well as her nieces, nephews and friends.
Preceding her in death were her parents, David and Maria Mendel and her husband, Willie Koehn; and also, a stillborn baby when Tabea’s mother passed away. Also, her sister, Elizabeth (Clifford) Wollman; brother, Roy (Violet) Mendel; sister, Ida (Eddie) Gall and their six-month old Lillian and 11/2-year old Tabea; and David (Alice) Mendel; Paul (Angie) Mendel and their 3-year old Susan; as well as nephew, Gorden Wollman; brother-in-law Albert (Betty) Koehn; sister-in-law Ruth (Harrison) Koehn and Don Harrison; and brother-in-law John Lundin.
