Waunita Marie Koehn

 Waunita Marie Koehn was born to John and Eva Nightengale of Isabella, Oklahoma on June 16, 1925. She passed away peacefully on March 15, 2024 at the age of 98. 

At three years old, Waunita’s father sold the farm in Isabella and moved to Dalhart, Texas. There were three siblings at that time. Not long after settling in, the Dust Bowl arrived. She said all the animals died of suffocation and the dust covered the fences. They had to use wet cloths to cover their nose and mouth. They would then have to rinse them very frequently because the cloth would become muddy. Due to the weather disaster, the family lost the farm in Texas and moved back to Isabella. Living on the farm was not easy for Waunita. Everything they ate was grown on the land and had to be stored in a dugout cellar for the winter. As time went on, the family grew to have 17 children. In a large family of this size, everyone had to do their share. Waunita said she spent her childhood caring for and helping to raise the younger siblings. She loved them all dearly but had little time to play and be a child herself. Of the 17 children, five passed away before school age. 

When Waunita was 18, she met Robert Koehn of Fairview. Shortly after meeting, Robert left with the Army for World War II. She started writing him letters and continued the entire time he was away. When he arrived home, they were married in Dodge City, Kansas  on August 1, 1946. As the years passed, Robert and Waunita added two daughters, Yvonne and Shirley, to their family. Waunita was a homemaker and helped finances by taking in ironing for extra income. The two had been married 48 years when Robert passed away. 

Waunita moved on to the next phase of her life with grace and bought a home in Okeene to be close to her daughter and family. She became involved in the Mennonite Brethren Church and the Senior Citizens Center. 

Waunita is survived by her two daughters, Yvonne and Shirley; three granddaughters, Carissa Rainey and husband, Wesley, Sara Hauser, and Beth Fox and husband, Jason. She has three great grandsons, Brett, Seth and Konnor, and one great granddaughter, Kamryn. She loved them all dearly. She is also survived by one sister, Rita Koehn; two brothers, Roger Nightengale and wife, Lori, and AJ Nightengale and wife, Paula; three sisters-in-law, Elsie Koehn, Mary Helen Koehn, and Rosetta Schmidt, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Koehn; her parents, John and Eva Nightengale; fourteen siblings, and son in law. 

The family would like to thank the staff at Summers Health Services for their warm and loving care. She loved them and they loved her!

A graveside service for Waunita will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at Cedar Cemetery located near Fairview. Arrangements are by Lanman Funeral Home Inc. of Okeene.  www.lanmanfuneralhome.com  Facebook: Lanman Funeral Home Inc.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to Summers Health Services of Okeene or to the charity of your choice through the funeral home.