Father of Seven Dies In Silo Accident Near Halstead, Kan.
Halstead, Kan. - An accident in a silo one mile north of her Saturday afternoon claimed the life of Otis Koehn, 41, Halstead area farmer and the father of seven children.
The site of the tragedy was the Cecil Keller farm where Mr. Koehn and two brothers, Noah and Harley Koehn, were filling the large cement silo. The brothers farm across the road from the Keller place.
Noah Koehn reported that Otis was operating the distributor unit inside the silo. When those outside failed to see or hear him for a time, 13-year-old Rawleigh [sic Raleigh] Koehn climbed up an found his uncle lying under about two feet of ensilage. Investigating officers attributed his death to suffocation. However, members of the family said he had a history of a heart condition, and may have suffered a heart attack which caused him to fall forward on the ensilage.
A native of this community, the husband and father is survived by his widow, Norma Jean, six sons and one daughter, all of the home; five brothers and three sisters.
Funeral services were held Wednesday forenoon at the Grace Mennonite Church west of town.
Mennonite Weekly Review: 1968 Sep 30 p. 8
Otis Koehn, son of Jacob T. and Nettie Unruh Koehn, was born July 6, 1924 at Halstead, Kan., passed away in a silo accident Aug. 21, 1965 at 3:15 p.m., reaching the age of 41 years, one month and 15 days.
He received his education and grew to manhood near Halstead where he also resided at the time of his early and unexpected death. He felt the need of a Saviour in his youth, and upon true repentance and confession of his sins he received the assurance of sins forgiven through the atoning blood of Jesus and was baptized and added to the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite on Jan. 28, 1937 by Min. Carl Dirks. He remained faithful to this church to the end.
On Sept. 16, 1951 he was united in marriage to Norma Jean Koehn at Burns, Kan. This short married life of almost 14 years was blessed with six sons and one daughter. Otis was a kind and loving father with a patient and forgiving heart. By occupation he was a farmer, a good provider for his family, one who enjoyed life and lived it with courage and trust in God.
He lived his Christian life with concern and conviction and was especially concerned for the spiritual welfare of his family. This was also expressed in a special prayer last winter with one of their sons. There was a special calmness felt in the family circle during the last days of his life. We mourn not as those who have no hope but are assured that he is at rest.
He leaves to mourn his passing his deeply bereaved wife and seven children, Weldon, 12, Daniel, 11, Charles, 9, Floyd, 8, Sanford, 6, Edith, 5, and Larry, 2, all of the home; five brothers, Lucas and wife Mildred, Noah and wife Lorene, Menno and wife Edna, Allen and wife Osie, Harley and wife Alice, all of Halstead; three sisters, Ada (Mrs. Lavern Nightengale) of Chickasha, Okla., Ellen (Mrs. Lloyd Dyck) Hesston, Kan., and Vera (Mrs. Verle Schmidt) of Halstead; and his wife's parents, Pete and Clara Koehn, and a host of relatives and friends.
1924 - 1965 (41 years)