March 18, 1947 - October 14, 2022
Kathryn Karen (Koehl) Fehr, 75, of West Bend went home to be with Jesus on Oct. 14, 2022, at Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona.
Kathryn was born on March 18, 1947, to Ephraim and Eunice (Pfister) Koehl in Morris, Minn., the youngest of eight children. Funeral services for Kathryn were held Monday Oct. 17 at the Apostolic Christian Church in West Bend.
She was raised on the family farm and attended grade school at District 45. She graduated from Morris High School in 1964. Following high school she began Nurses’ Training at Ramsey St. Paul in St. Paul, Minn. On May 28, 1966, Kathryn married Wayne Fehr in Hancock, Minn. On Oct. 22, 1967, Wayne and Kathryn began their walks with the Lord, were baptized and became members of the Apostolic Christian Church in West Bend. Her relationship with her Savior was her comfort and strength.
The couple farmed and raised their children in the West Bend and Whittemore areas. In 1996 they moved from the home place on the farm and settled in town in West Bend. From 2004-2014, Wayne and Kathy resided in the Silverton, Ore. area where they were able to spend time with their children and grandchildren that live there. Following a move back to West Bend they resided in the Apostolic Christian Retirement Village. They spent their winters in Zapata, Texas where they enjoyed the warmer weather and fellowship.
Kathy was a devoted wife and mother and a true friend to many. She always had time for others, and while she didn’t always feel comfortable in large crowds, she loved one on one conversations with everyone. She enjoyed sewing and cherished making personalized gifts for her children and grandchildren each year. Kathy loved her relationships with her grandchildren, and often, with a smile or laugh, was the first to help them get out of mischief with their parents. She was always quick to help her family and would drop everything she was doing to make things easier for them.
Kathryn is survived by her husband, Wayne of 56 years, and her five children: Melissa (Todd) Kuenzi, Silverton, Ore.; Tamara (Cameron) Knobloch, Whittemore; Byron (Anita) Fehr, West Bend; Colette (Jason) Snook, Salem, Ore.; Matthew (Rachel) Fehr, Lone Tree, Colo.; and Pat (Jorja) Fournier, of Sherman Texas who was their exchange student in 1975 but was embraced as part of their family. Also by 25 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are her sisters, Marliyn Banwart, Rebecca Banwart, Charlotte (Ward) Werpy, brother Arnold (Sharon) Koehl, brothers and sisters-in-law, Maxine Koehl, Doris (Martin) Zaugg, Robert (Barbara) Fehr, James (Sharon) Fehr, Ruth (Duane) Metzger, and Daniel (Eunice) Fehr.
She was preceded in death by her parents Ephraim and Eunice Koehl, granddaughter, Amanda Banwart, great-grandson, Baby Banwart, father and mother-in-law, Elmer and Matilda Fehr, her brothers, Jake Koehl, Doug Koehl, infant brother Eugene Koehl, brothers-in-law, Victor Banwart, James Banwart, and sister-in-law, Mary Koehl.
Instead of sending thank you notes, the family will be making donations to KRHC Home Health Services.
Funeral services were 10 a.m. Monday at the Apostolic Christian Church in West Bend. Visitation was 2:30 - 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Apostolic Fellowship Center in West Bend with additional visitation from 9-9:45 a.m. Monday at the church. www.lentzfuneralhome.com