IRENE V. KOEHN

Irene V. Koehn, 92 of Devils Lake formerly of Egeland and Munich, ND passed away on Thursday morning, October 24, 2013 at the Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake with family at her bedside. Funeral Services for Irene will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, Munich on Monday, October 28, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. She will be laid to rest in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, rural Munich beside her husband. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Sunday, October 27th from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Visitation on Monday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Irene will be her grandsons, Jason Altendorf, Jeffrey Altendorf, Kyle Altendorf, Nathan Altendorf, Justin Miller, Brandon Miller, James Koehn and Jacob Koehn. Honorary Bearers will be her granddaughters, Corrina Koehn, Amanda Koehn, Lauralee Foley, Loni Miller, Melissa Neuberger and Ana Koehn. Irene, daughter of Charles and Ida (Westphal) Greening was born on March 27, 1921 at her parents’ farm, rural Clyde, ND. She was reared and educated in the Alsen area, graduating from Wales High School with the class of 1940. After graduating, Irene helped on the family farm then later attended Valley City State Teacher’s College and received her teaching certificate. She taught at Dresden, Minto Township School and Munich. While teaching in Munich, Irene met her beloved Alfred “Sonny” Koehn and they were married on June 16, 1946 at Nekoma, ND. Irene and Sonny lived in Munich until 1952 when they established their home on the farm at rural Egeland. They farmed side by side and raised their family, and Irene also was a substitute teacher with the Egeland Public School for many years. Irene was the ultimate farm wife. She was an excellent cook and baker and made everything from “soup to nuts” so to speak and all were delicious. Irene always had a large garden and canned the produce to share with family and friends. She was an expert seamstress and made clothes for her children and others. She made scrapbooks of family events and community events before “scrapbooking” was so popular. In 1960, the family moved into their new home with running water throughout and a furnace to keep the family cozy and warm on those cold winter nights. Irene and Sonny had worked hard and did without to be able to have a modern home. Alfred passed away on January 21, 1990. Irene then moved to Munich and lived in her own home until May of 2012. Irene was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church, the Ladies Aid and the Quilters. Irene is survived by her dear family. Her children and their spouses, Charles and Tina Koehn of Egeland, ND, Charleen Altendorf of Minto, ND, Rachel and Oscar Miller of Raleigh, ND and David and Jill Koehn also Minto; fourteen grandchildren, Corrina Koehn, Amanda Koehn:Jason Altendorf, Jeffrey (Emily) Altendorf, Lauralee (Mike) Foley, Kyle Altendorf, Nathan Altendorf:Justin Miller, Loni Miller, Melissa (Jason) Neuberger, Brandon Miller:James (Jordan) Koehn, Jacob Koehn and Ana Koehn; six great grandchildren T.J., Kaityn, Adam, Claire, Anna and Adilyn; sister, Mildred (Howard) Klein of Minneapolis, MN and several nieces and nephews. Irene was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Sonny; son-in-law, Martin Altendorf; great grandson, Eric Altendorf and brothers, Victor Greening and Edwin Greening.