Funeral services for Karen Eliszabeth Kasper Koehn, 60, of Ruleville will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 25 at the Leland Mennonite Church. She died Friday, March 22 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Burial was in the Leland Mennonite Church Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Boone Funeral Home.
Our wife and mother, Karen, was born in San Francisco, California on March 22, 1959 to John and Venieta Kasper, being the fourth child of six siblings. She departed this life on March 22, 2019, by a few minutes reaching her 60th birthday. She received her elementary schooling at Ballico-Cressey School in Ballico, CA. Later in life she completed her education by receiving a GED.
Her early life was spent in the Winston-Livingston, CA area. When she was five years old, her parents began attending the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite at Winston, CA (1967). She was baptized into this same faith on February 11, 1973 at Thomas, OK by Carl Nightingale. Her caring heart for those with whom she came into contact bore witness to her faith and we have a good assurance of her hope of salvation.
On June 13, 1980, Friday the 13th, she was married to Gene Koehn at Walker, MO. They enjoyed wedded life together for 39 years. The early years of their marriage were passed at Transylvania, LA, and for about 23 years, they lived at Faunsdale, AL. Other locations where they also spent time were Guntersville, AL and Louisville, Ga, where they attended church with the Harmony Congregation. In the last years, they lived in the Leland, MS area, where she resided at her death.
She took pleasure in and excelled at decorating cakes. She was also a skilled seamstress and enjoyed sewing for people. She especially loved her grandchildren and they elicited the most response from her as she was on her deathbed. Her home and table were open to anyone, no matter their background or history, and she loved connecting with those with special needs. Although beset by physical limitations, she reached out to everyone unconditionally, and at various times, Dad and Mom opened their home to different ones that needed a place to stay.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Gene, of Ruleville, MS; three daughters, Danae, and husband Jerry Koehn of Leland, Carissa, and husband, Evan Ratzlaff of Macon, MS and Laura of Livingston, CA; one son, Wyndale, and wife, Chelsea of Ruleville; and eight grandchildren; two brothers, John Kasper of Dedrick, MO and Bruce Kasper and wife, Kathy of Hydro, OK; and three sisters, Ethel and Monroe Koehn of Moundridge, KS, Dorothy Covey, of Schell City, MO and Anita Kasper of Nevada, MO. Some very special friends, Glen and Leslie Toews and their children spent much time with them and were considered family.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
There was a visitation held on Sunday at the church.