Vernon L. Koenen, of Montevideo, died Saturday, May 3, 2014 at his home in Montevideo, following a brief battle with a very aggressive cancer, at the age of 74.
Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at 1:30 PM at Watson Lutheran Church. Vicar Linda Estling will officiate and burial with be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held at the Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo on Tuesday, from 5-7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00.
Vernon Lee Koenen was born May 23, 1939 in Montevideo, MN the youngest of 9 children, to Aeise “Ike” and Marie (Groothuis) Koenen. He was raised on the Koenen family farm 17 miles north of Montevideo in Grace Township. Vern was baptized into the Lutheran faith on July 21, 1939 and confirmed his faith at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Grace Township on May 31, 1953. He attended school in District 88 and graduated from Montevideo High School in 1957. Vern served in the military, as did his father and all 6 brothers, his son and three grandsons. He servcd in the National Guard and active Army, being discharged on December 2, 1962. On November 21, 1964, Vernon was united in marriage with Ruth A. Knutson, at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Sacred Heart. Two children were born to Vern and Ruth: a son, Scott and a daughter, Karla. After living in the Clara City area until 1969, they moved to Watson where they made their home and raised their children. They moved to Montevideo in 2012.
Vern spent most of his adult life working in road construction; operating heavy equipment and driving truck for various construction companies. Vern was a 20 year retiree from the Watson Fire Department; served a term as Mayor of Watson, was a member of Watson Lutheran Church and American Legion Post #59. He enjoyed motorcycling, camping, winters in Texas, and hunting trips for deer in northern Minnesota as well as elk trips in Wyoming and Colorado. He especially enjoyed his family and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth; son Scott (Jill) Koenen of Watson; daughter Karla Kocher (Marcelo DaSilveira) of Montevideo; grandchildren: Jonathan (Nicole) Koenen, Jenna, Jerrell, Ethan, and Emmalee Koenen, Zachary Gilbertson, Krystina and Victoria Kocher; great-grandchildren: Liam, Dominick, Kara, and Jason; and sisters-in-law: Mavis, Frances, Irene, and Beverly Koenen. Also surviving are many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, breakfast and coffee drinking buddies, and extended family.
Preceding him in death were his parents; eight brothers: Harold, Melvin, Kenneth I., Donald, Orville, Gerald, and two in infancy; and two sisters: Caroline Langseth and Lorretta Jaenisch Pieper.