In Loving Memory of Lloyd W. Koehnen

Lloyd Walter Koehnen was born on May 1, 1938 in Chaska, Minnesota to Henry and Josephine (Wagener) Koehnen.  He was baptized May 8, 1938 at Church of Guardian Angels in Chaska, had his first communion May 11, 1947 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Waconia, and was later confirmed there on Nov. 6, 1949.  At Waconia High School he played football and his friends nicknamed him Bozo.  He was sometimes mischievous like when he blew up his future parent-in-laws' mailbox with firecrackers every 4th of July.  Lloyd graduated from Mankato State College in 1960.  On December 27th of that same year he married Alfrieda Hilk at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Glen Lake, Minnesota. They started their family when Sheryl (Ayres) was born in St. Louis Park, Minnesota in 1961.  Joleen (Hernandez) was born in Chillicothe, Missouri in 1963. Karla (Durmas) was born in Norfolk, Nebraska in 1968 followed by Reed Koehnen in 1969. They then lived in Columbus, Ohio and later moved to Loveland, Colorado. During their time in Colorado they opened their home to three exchange students, for a year each: Katri from Finland, Aino from Sweden, and Marcus from Germany, as well as college students Carmen and Corine for a summer.

Lloyd was a sales manager for Farmhand for 25 years. He and Alfrieda (Fritz) then moved to Texas where he was employed for another 29 years at Modern Agriculture Manufacturing and the Crenshaws. He was dedicated, hard-working, and always active. He enjoyed working outdoors. He was a farmer at heart. Lloyd played golf, dominoes, and cards. Bridge, Hand and Foot, Solitaire/FreeCell, Cribbage, and Sheephead were a few of his favorite games. He rarely was beaten. Over the years he also enjoyed snowmobiling, hunting, snow and water skiing, hiking, and roller and ice skating. His favorite activity was certainly fishing. Crossword and jigsaw puzzles were another pastime. Parasailing and flying lessons were a few of his more adventurous activities. He also successfully climbed Longs Peak, which is one of Colorado’s 14ers.  His family of six took many long trips in a station wagon and later a motorhome with Tijuana Brass playing on the 8-track. When their children were grown, he and Fritz also traveled extensively as a couple. They visited multiple places on all seven continents, with the most recent being Australia and New Zealand.

He was very generous and an avid volunteer. He was a member and served on the Board of Directors of Beaumont Spindletop Rotary Club where he was recognized as a Rotarian of the Year 2006-2007, a Paul Harris Fellow, and listed on the Rotary District Honor Roll of Fame. He assisted Jack Houser in starting the SE TX All-American Soap Box Derby in Beaumont with Spindletop Rotary Club in 2002 and continued as a race director for several years. He was a member of YMBL (Young Men’s Business League) where one of his favorite projects was working the Southeast Texas State Fair. He also served on the Board of Directors of Redeemer Lutheran Church and of Redeemer’s Children’s Center. He supported others as a Stephen Minister for 15 years. He volunteered for Some Other Place which helps the needy. Lloyd served as the chairman of the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of Texas (LOMT) Development Council. At the time of his passing he was on the Board of Directors for LOMT and Mbabaali Memorial School/Orphanage as well as sponsoring an orphan in Uganda. Lloyd willingly shared his time, talents, and God given gifts with others. He was respectful, accepting, and had a smile for all who crossed his path.

Lloyd went to heaven on June 17, 2016, at the age of 78 due to cancer. The Lord touched all of us through him. He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

Lloyd is survived by his wife Alfrieda; daughters and sons-in-law Sheryl and Ron Ayres of Loveland, Colorado; Joleen and Ivan Hernandez of Lumberton, Texas; Karla and Dennis Durmas of Whitewater, Colorado; son Reed Koehnen of Duncanville, Texas; grandchildren Leslie Ayres-Reichert, Dan Zebell, Mike Zebell, Ivan Lloyd Hernandez, Kristina Malnar, Stephanie Hernandez, Johnathon Durmas; great grandchild Alivia Ayres-Perry; and sisters and brother-in-law Angie Kopf, Janice and Gary Meuwissen; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Verna Gutzke, Rosemarie and Ronald Hilk, and Gerald Babb.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson Matt Ayres; brothers-in-law John Kopf, Leonard Gutzke, and Albert Hilk; sisters-in-law Rose Marie Hilk and Diann Babb.

A memorial service will be held for Lloyd W. Koehnen on Saturday, June 25, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Beaumont, Texas followed by a fellowship hour.

Memorials, in lieu of flowers, can be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church organ fund (4330 Crow Road; Beaumont, TX 77706), Camp Lone Star/LOMT http://www.lomt.com/support.html or Richard Gagne’ Charitable Foundation for Mbabaali Memorial School for Orphans http://ragfoundation.org/donations/.