- Date Of Birth: April 11, 1921
- Date Of Death: March 22, 2014
- State: Nebraska
A loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Iona Irene (Ottemann) Koehler, 92, of Humboldt, Nebraska left us on March 22, 2014 to be reunited with her husband of 72 years, Wilber, the love of her life. Iona was an exceptionally caring, devoted and unselfish wife and mother who will be greatly missed by family and friends. She was born on April 11, 1921 on her parent’s farm in Nemaha County, Nebraska. Iona was one of four children born to Edwin and Mary Sophia (Gobber) Ottemann. She was baptized on May 1, 1921 and confirmed on September 16, 1934 by Rev. W. Freuhling at Martin Luther Church. Iona later graduated from the 8th grade at Center School District #43.
On October 9, 1941 Iona was united in marriage to Wilber A. Koehler at Martin Luther Church by Rev. W. Freuhling. Wilber and Iona established their home on the farm in Nemaha County. This marriage was blessed with four children: Carol Jean Lena Marie, Gerold Frank, Wayne D, and Roger Wilber. Along with helping Wilber on the farm, Iona was a wonderful mother and homemaker who loved gardening, sewing, baking, quilting and embroidering. She was an avid quilter and made each grandchild a quilt and each great-grandchild a baby quilt. Iona especially loved her grandchildren and had special relationships with each of them. She was a member of St. James (Long Branch) Lutheran Church where she enjoyed making quilts for Lutheran World Relief and working in the kitchen for many church functions.
After several months of failing health, Iona moved to Colonial Acres Nursing Home on February 21, 2014, where she passed away on Saturday, March 22, 2014 having reached the age of ninety-two years, eleven months, and ten days. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Wilber, daughter-in-law Linda Koehler, granddaughter Paula (Koehler) Deisley, a sister Elsie (Julius) Knippelmeyer, a brother Mervin Ottemann, sister-in-law Laura Ottemann, and brother-in-law Henry Mandery.
Iona is survived by her children: Carol (Willis) Oestmann of Elkhorn, NE; Gerold Koehler of Joplin, MO; Wayne (Marilyn) Koehler of rural Humboldt, NE; Roger (Deb) Koehler of Claremore, OK; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; a brother Arnold Ottemann of Johnson, NE; sisters-in-law: Lila Ottemann of Elk Creek, NE; Lela (Harold) Buchholz of rural Table Rock, NE; brother-in-law Glenn Koehler of rural Humboldt, NE; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
