Gertrude Koehn

Gertrude Anna (Schaffer) Koehn was born March 29, 1926, in Spearville, Kans., to Andrew F. and Ruth (Blecha) Schaffer. She was one of eight children. She attended Springbrook School in Hodgeman County, KS, through the 8th grade. She attended Spearville High School for two years and then graduated from Jetmore High School in 1944. She married Eddie Koehn on May 24, 1947, in Syracuse. They had four children, Bruce, E. Dale, Carole, and Jolyn.

She and Eddie went into business in 1948 with an automobile repair shop. They acquired the Ford Dealership in 1955 in Cimarron, KS, and in 1971, the family moved their Ford dealership to Wellington, KS. She was the bookkeeper for their businesses for 70 years, working along with her husband, and after Eddie retired, she continued to work as Dale’s bookkeeper. She was diligent about her work and won the Ford Accountants Award every year for 55 years. She always had good health and continued working until age 92.
She loved being a mother to her children. Her interests were flower and vegetable gardening, canning, sewing, and crafting, all while continuing to work at their business. She loved the Holidays when everyone came home and always prepared a big dinner. She and Eddie loved to travel, and they saw many parts of the country and famous landmarks. She was a woman of faith and attended the Christian Church in Cimarron, KS, and later the Hillside Baptist Church in Wellington.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Eddie Koehn; her parents; infant sister, Mildred; daughter, Carole Sanborn; grandson, Jason Hull; her brothers, Carl, John, Earl, Danny, and Harold; and her sister, Irene Wade. Surviving to honor her memory are: sons, Bruce Koehn and wife Janet of Downers Grove, IL., Dale Koehn and wife Joyce of Wellington; daughter, Jolyn Hay and husband David of Lenexa; sister-in-law, Ruby Schaffer; 9 grandchildren, Shona Hicks, Jess (Christine) Koehn, Troy Koehn, Robyn (Justin) Halper, Nichole Ramirez, Josh Sawer, Pierce (Brooke) Hull, Cara Jo (Tyler) Beck and Jaime Hay (Katie Taylor); and 17 great-grandchildren.

A Graveside Service will be held at Cimarron Cemetery, located at 1000 North 5th Street, Cimarron, Kansas 67835, on Monday, October 13, 2025, at 1 p.m.