Kenneth Koehn

KENNETH KOEHN

Montezuma

Kenneth Lynn Koehn, 68, of Montezuma, formerly of Tama, passed away Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, at the Belle Plaine Nursing and Rehab Center under the care of Care Initiatives Hospice. Visitation will be Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama. Funeral services will be Thursday, Oct. 29, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. It was his wish to be cremated after the service.

Kenneth was born Nov. 23, 1946, to Ervin and Elizabeth (Hinrichs) Koehn in Lincoln Township, rural Iowa County. He graduated in 1964 from HLV Community High School. He attended the University of Iowa before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. In September 1965, he attended language school in Carmel, Calif., specializing in the Polish language. He was selected as an airborn voice intercept processing specialist. After operational and survival training, he was assigned to USAF security service and assigned to flight duty on the RC130 aircraft in Rhine Main Air Base in Germany. He served briefly as an interrogator in Wiesbaden Air Base in Germany. He finished out his Air Force career back in electronic security command flying on RC135, accumulating over 800 flight hours and earning 10 air medals. He retired from the Air Force in 1985. He also drove a truck, sold car and life insurance, and was a U.S. Postal Service carrier in Tama, retiring in 2009.

He was married in 1970 to Ilona Pauli in Germany. They were blessed with two children, Jennifer Maria and Christopher Lynn. They divorced in 1995. He married Tylaine Slagle on Aug. 28, 2003, at Offutt Air Force base in Nebraska. They resided in Montezuma, Iowa.

Ken was an avid golfer. He enjoyed spending time with his friends and just enjoying life. He was a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles, serving as secretary for five years. He also was a member of the American Legion and had been a member of the Tama Volunteer Fire Department before moving to Montezuma.

Ken is survived by his wife, Ty; his daughter, Jennifer Zahradnik of Cedar Rapids; his son, Christopher (Heidi) Koehn of Solon; stepdaughter, Tara Slagle of Tama; and stepson, Steven Slagle of Toledo. He also is survived by his grandchildren, Colin and Julia Zahradnik, Rowdy Koehn and Kiley Cousins; a great-granddaughter, Kinley; his stepgrandchildren, Ariana and Lance Davenport and Evan Slagle; his brothers, Daniel Ervin (Diana) Koehn of Cedar Rapids, Eric Eugene (Patsy) Koehn of Cedar Rapids and Edward Leon Koehn of Cedar Rapids; and sisters, Mary Jane (Todd) Becker of Cedar Rapids and Elizabeth Ann York of Ladora.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and baby sister, Susan Carol.

A memorial fund has been established.