Evelyn (Graber) Koehn
February 8, 1932 ~ February 8, 2023
Evelyn (Graber) Koehn, 91, passed away on her birthday, Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary. A graveside service will be held at 9:30 am, Wednesday, February 15, 2023, First Mennonite Church Cemetery, Moundridge, KS. A funeral Service will be at 11:30 am, Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at First Presbyterian Church, Wichita. A reception and light lunch will follow.
Evelyn lived an exceedingly full and happy life in her 91 years. She was born on the family farm in McPherson County Kansas, just outside Moundridge, and attended the Happy Hollow country school until her recently-widowed mother moved her and her sisters who were still at home to Moundridge when Evelyn was in the 5th grade. It was there she met the love of her life, Stan Koehn. She graduated from Moundridge High School in 1950, where she was a trumpet player in the band and a part of many other school organizations. She and Stan married in 1952.
She traveled extensively throughout her life, beginning in 1954 with a move from Moundridge KS to Tours, France to be with Stan after he was drafted into the US Army. When he had leave, they traveled throughout Europe. During their life together they traveled together to 48 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. They visited Canada, Mexico, took a cruise through the Panama Canal, and returned to Europe. They took annual summer vacations with Linda and Tom, often with extended family members as well, many times to the Rocky Mountains. After retirement, she and Stan purchased an RV and traveled all over the country with their RV club.
She began employment with Air Capitol Savings in 1971 as a part-time teller and retired 25 years later as a Branch Manager and Assistant Vice President of Fidelity Savings. Prior to that, she had a home-based business making and selling resin grapes. She was an avid bridge player and bowling team member. When Tom and Linda were still in elementary school, she was active in the McCollum PTA and helped lead Linda’s Brownie troop. She played bridge in numerous bridge clubs until shortly before her death, and bowled on many different bowling teams much of her life, well into her 80’s. She was a collector of coffee mugs, angels, snowmen, and cherished friends. She celebrated all the holidays with home decorations and holiday socks. She was a woman of faith, baptized in the First Mennonite Church in Moundridge where she taught Sunday school as a young woman, and a member of First Presbyterian Church in Wichita 60 years where she also taught Sunday school, served as a deacon, and sang in the Chancel Choir nearly 50 years. She was a lover of music all her life, growing up in a musical family and bringing that love to the family she and Stan created.
Her family was most important to her. She and Stan were a devoted couple and a wonderful example of a happy marriage to those who knew and loved them. She was always there for her two children when they needed her, throughout childhood and adulthood. She loved and took great pleasure in spending time with her three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She had a special bond with the three sisters that she grew up with-often referred to as The Graber Girls-and enjoyed traveling with them and shopping with them. She loved the family members she acquired by marriage; they were her family as well.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John P. and Anna K. Graber; daughter, Cynthia Ann Koehn; son, Thomas Scott Koehn; brothers, Clarence Graber, Verne Graber, Willard Graber; sisters, Mildred Bartrug, Edna Graber, Helen Bahre, and Margie Dyck. She is survived by her husband, Stan Koehn; daughter, Linda (Keith) Good; grandchildren, Matthew (Nicole) Koehn, William Good, Amanda Good; great-grandchildren, Aislin Koehn, Callista Koehn; numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family.
Evelyn’s family is grateful for the loving and compassionate care she received from Park West Assisted Living, Good Shepherd Hospice, and Dr. Randee Lipman. A memorial has been established with First Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir, 525 N. Broadway Ave., Wichita, KS 67214.
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Godspeed Evelyn. A long life, and a kind, caring and loving soul that will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered. Now eternally reunited with her loving husband Stan, December 9, 2023, and other family, friends and loved ones gone before.