Koehn, Ervin Henry

Ervin Henry Koehn, 92, a longtime resident of Rosehaven Nursing Home in Marengo, passed away, trusting in Jesus, on June 23, 2011, after a lengthy illness. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 28, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Victor, with the Rev. Nicholas Huelsman officiating. Organist will be Marna Mohr. Pallbearers will be Justin Becker, John Bruzek, Ben and Christopher Koehn, and Craig, Dustin and Kevin York. Burial will be in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery.Visitation will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. Monday at Smith Funeral Home in Victor, with the family present from 5 to 7 Monday evening.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Ladora Fire Department, St. John's Lutheran Church or Trinity Lutheran School in Cedar Rapids.

Ervin was born May 23, 1919, to Katherine Sheda and Henry Carl Koehn, in rural Victor, Iowa County, Iowa.He was baptized and confirmed at St, John's Lutheran Church, rural Victor, and attended schools at Guernsey and Victor. He returned to St. John's Lutheran School, graduating 8th grade with his future wife, Elizabeth Hinrichs. They were married Dec. 8, 1943, in Medford, Ore. He received his GED at Kirkwood Community College.

Ervin served in the United States Army from 1941-1945 in the Pacific Theatre during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Combat Medical Badge. He proudly wore his 1st Medical Regiment badge on his World War II veteran's cap.

Ervin was a farmer, not far from his birthplace, for most of his life.He was also employed at Amana Refrigeration for 29 years until his retirement in 1984. From 1973 to 1993, he lived in Cedar Rapids, where Elizabeth died in their home in 1991, and later lived in Victor and Ladora.

He was a former member and trustee at Trinity Lutheran Church and school in Cedar Rapids.

On May 21, 1994, he was united in marriage to his longtime friend from his childhood, Velma Bringmann of Ladora, in Washington, Iowa.

Survivors include six children, Ken (Tylaine) Koehn of Montezuma, Betty (Ross) York of Ladora, and Dan (Diana) Koehn, Mary (Todd) Becker, Eric (Patsy) Koehn and Ed (Berta) Koehn, all of Cedar Rapids; stepson, Leroy (Jan) Bringmann of Victor; two sisters, Miquie Bruzek of Cedar Rapids and Maxine (Ron) Maly of West Des Moines; two sisters-in-law, Vivian Hinrichs of Williamsburg and Janet Hinrichs of Pleasant Hill; three brothers-in-law, Gary (Janis) Hinrichs of Marengo, Ed (Ruth) Hinrichs of Fairmont, Minn., and Doug Benyshek of Mesa, Ariz.; 12 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wives, Elizabeth in 1991 and Velma in 2009; one daughter, Susan, who died in infancy; his parents; two sisters, Irene Timm and Mary Benyshek; one stepson, Richard Bringmann; and two great-grandchildren, Katie Koehn and Koral Nichole York.

Ervin will be remembered as a loving, hardworking, and caring husband, father, grandpa, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend by all who knew him.

The Koehn family would like to express their thanks to the staff at Rosehaven and Essence of Life Hospice in Amana for all the loving care given to their dad over the last several years, and for all those who have expressed their sympathies to them.