Kenneth R. Koehn

Halstead Dateline 

Kenneth R. Koehn, 80, died October 10, 2024, at Newton Presbyterian Manor. He was born December 1, 1943, in Isabella, Oklahoma to Elmer and Adelina (Nightingale) Koehn. On September 23, 1972, he married Denise Denno and she survives of the home. 

In 1944 when Kenneth was one, his family moved to a dairy and wheat farm near Ponca City, Oklahoma. He attended Excelsior elementary, a one room school, until eighth grade. He then attended Ponca City High School where he excelled in woodworking, and won awards for his advanced projects. After graduation in 1963, he moved to join an uncle in Halstead, Kansas to seek out better job opportunities. He eventually went to work for Harris development, building the new Skyline Mobile Homes plant. After construction of the building was complete and the plant opened, he went to fill out a job application. Instead, they immediately put him to work, and he was employed there for the next 40 years, retiring as an assistant production manager in 2006. He was always amused by the fact that he never actually filled out a job application.

While working in Halstead, he met his future wife, Denise Denno, who was working as a waitress at Milly’s Buffet. They were married in 1972, shortly after she finished X-Ray training. They welcomed three children: Carrie, Sarah, and Matthew and were married for 52 years. In addition to Skyline, Kenneth worked with his brother, Floyd Koehn, at FW Wood Products crafting custom cabinetry, building furniture, and making restaurant fixtures. Kenneth loved to garden, and started a Farmer’s Market on second street in Halstead that he ran with his daughter Sarah and son Matthew for decades. He took great delight in offering both solicited and unsolicited gardening and vegetable advice. He enjoyed traveling and meeting new people. He truly never met a stranger. 

In addition to his wife, Denise, Kenneth is survived by daughters Carrie (Roddy) Winder and Sarah Koehn, son Matthew Koehn, close friend and “adopted” son Jeffrey Holsonback, all of Wichita, brothers Earl Koehn of Nevada, Missouri, Dennis (Geneva) Koehn of Halstead, and Cecil (Pat) Koehn of Ponca City Oklahoma, as well as many beloved sisters-in law, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Carolyn Koehn, brothers Floyd and Joe Koehn, sisters-in-law Elfrieda and Elnora Koehn, and nephews Steven and Chad Koehn.

Funeral service will be at 10:00 AM Thursday October 17, 2024, at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Joel Schroeder presiding. Visitation will be 5 PM to 9 PM Wednesday October 16, 2024, the family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Halstead City Cemetery, Halstead, Kansas.

Memorials may be made to the Caring Hands Humane Society in care of the funeral home.