Juanita Dueck

Obituary

My loving wife, our mother, and grandmother was born to Albert and Goldie Koehn on November 2, 1960, at Glenn General Hospital in Willows, California. Grades 1 to 8 at Bayliss Grade School followed by 9 and 10 in Willows high school completed her formal education. Mom started sewing at age 9 and loved meticulously tailoring clothes and doing projects and crafts all her life. Mom was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite on October 23, 1977, by Min Dick Loewen. Her faith remained very precious to her and she often reminded her children of it.

Mom was at a CPS girls unit in Gallup, New Mexico, when dad came to visit his sister there. It was love at first sight. On July 26, 1981, they were married by Min Dick Loewen in Glenn, California. Dad was from Whitemouth, Manitoba, so that meant a long move north. Mom said that her first winter here was her longest and coldest ever. In 1990, mom and dad packed up and moved the family to California where we spent three and a half years under the California sun. We moved back to Whitemouth in 1994. A short time later we spent 14 months in Montreal as houseparent’s at the Christian Public Service unit. Many enjoyable times were had and lasting friendships were made.

When the need arose, mom stepped in and worked in the family tarp sewing business for 8 years. Mom loved nature, flowers, gardening, and birds – especially orioles. Camping and fishing trips were a highlight of her summer. Mom also loved having many, many parties with friends that always seemed to run late into the night. Her grandchildren were most precious to her. Tea parties, picnics, stories, and borrowing things from grandma were bright spots in everyone’s day.

Bravely fighting cancer for the last three years and all the pain and suffering along with it, mom just smiled and told everyone she was fine. On July 8, 2017, at 10:35 AM, mom smiled again as she was carried away to Paradise by angels. Mom will be greatly missed and will always leave an empty spot in our hearts but we are happy she is in Heaven and free from suffering and pain.

Those left to lovingly cherish her memory: husband Sherwin; daughter Loretta and Andrew Goossen; son Brendon; three grandchildren Travis, Nicole, and Zarin; all of Whitemouth MB; parents Albert and Goldie Koehn, Moundridge KS; two brothers Russell and Kris Koehn, Elkton VA; Kelvin and Jenny Koehn, Wingo KY; three sisters Sondra Lozano, Moundridge KS; Grace and Steve Koehn, Salina KS; Joann Koehn, Los Angeles CA; sister-in-law Diane Royce, Oroville CA; brother-in-law Ray Lozano, Los Angeles CA; many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death is one brother Ronald Koehn.

Special thanks to all those involved in caring for Juanita during her illness, especially Elaine.

Viewing will be held Tuesday, July 11, 2017, at 7:00 p.m., at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

The funeral service will be held Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at 10:30 a.m., at the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, Whitemouth, MB, with interment at the church cemetery.