Nelson Koehn

Nelson Dale Koehn was born on February 20, 1956, in Moundridge, Kansas, to Clayton and Phyllis Becker Koehn. He quietly passed from this life in his home on January 19, 2021, from complications of diabetes. Nelson grew to manhood on the family dairy farm near Burns, Kansas, receiving his formal education at Burns Elementary School. At the age of nine, he was diagnosed with diabetes, and he faced subsequent health challenges throughout his life. He accepted Christ as his personal savior in his early youth and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, at the Eden Mennonite Church, remaining true to his vows to the end.
At the age of twenty-three, in March of 1979, Nelson moved to West Point, Mississippi with his family to pursue soybean farming. He was joined in marriage to Pamela Unruh on July 25, 1982, in Brooksville, Mississippi. He continued farming throughout his life, but was also employed as a unit leader at Fisher Marine and later as a farm operator at B. Bryan Farms. He dreamed of owning a farm, and in 1990, he and his wife purchased land near West Point. With hard work, good management, and determination he developed it into a successful farming operation.
Nelson was a kind and friendly gentleman with a quirky sense of humor who loved the land, farming, animals, and old tractors. He was an avid weather buff and took a great interest in history. He and his wife enjoyed traveling and through the years attended numerous farm related events around the country. Nelson took an active part in Sunday school and was greatly appreciated for his wisdom. We all enjoyed listening to him share his inspirations with the congregation. Often his timely suggestions helped lead the congregation to appropriate decisions. Recently he took pleasure in the construction of a new home on the farmstead.
Nelson was a man of integrity, and had a practical, realistic approach to life, which enabled him to face the challenges of life on an even keel. At a young age he developed a strong, steadfast work ethic, and he lived a productive life, finding fulfillment in his work and in the service of the Lord. He enjoyed serving on various church committees through the years, and a special blessing was his term of service on the Oakwood Manor board. He was a dedicated Christian and his walk of life was rock solid.
Those left behind to cherish his memory are his wife, Pamela; his mother, Phyllis; two brothers: Bill and Amelia; and Ben and Ladene, all of West Point, Mississippi; two sisters: Regina and Jerald Koehn, Burns, Kansas; and Mary Ellen Stewart, Scottsdale, Arizona; his father-in-law, Pete Unruh, Brooksville, Mississippi; three brothers-in-law: Greg Unruh, Leland, Mississippi; David and Kimberly Unruh, Ulysses, Kansas; and Travis and Lazetta Unruh, Macon, Mississippi, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, his mother-in-law, a sister-in-law, and a special friend, Jay Pinkerton.
Funeral services will 2 PM Saturday January 23, 2021 at the West Point Mennonite Church. Burial will follow in Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Joe Smith, Warren Giesbrecht, Vaughn Koehn, Sandy Pinkerton, Marshall Litwiller, Brandon Litwiller, Jordan Koehn, Clark Koehn. Honorary pallbearers are Hiram Millsaps, Brian Griggs, Elwood Smith, Galen Becker. Visitation for family and friends will be 6-8 PM Friday at the church.
Memorials may be made to Oakwood Retirement Community 55 Oakwood Dr. Brooksville, MS 39739.