Evan Jon Koehn was born on August 13, 1980, to Russell and Nancy Koehn in Merced, California, and departed this Earth on July 31, 2025, at Sacred Heart Hospital, Spokane, at the age of 44, after complications of a surgery relating to his cancer battle. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 5, at Mountain View Mennonite Church, Bonners Ferry. Interment will be in the church cemetery.
Evan completed his schooling at Longview Mennonite School and school was not a challenge to him. He succeeded in his studies and did well with his education. He was a lover of the great outdoors, and loved a fishing trip and going camping. The time spent outdoors with family were happy times. He learned to work in the almond orchards, running equipment especially honing his skills as an almond shaker operator. At a young age he learned to drive truck, excelling in hauling farm commodities but especially enjoying hauling livestock. His love for driving truck was an occupation that kept him busy for many years.
At the age of 12, he felt the call of the Lord and was converted and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite by Minister Chester Koehn. During school days and youth, he met Lillian Schmidt, with whom he felt he couldn’t live without.
They were married on May 30, 1999, enjoying 26 years of marriage. Christian life was not easy and there were choices made that took him in a different direction. In his recent cancer journey, he again reconnected with God and renewed his commitment to Him. In the last few days before his passing, a special peace was evident.
While living in California, he and Lillian we were blessed with two daughters and one son. Feeling the desire to be closer to home, he returned to school to become a journeyman electrician.
While visiting friends in Bonners Ferry, the family fell in love with the area and made the move there. Then he continued as a journeyman ultimately becoming a licensed contractor. He was known in the area as the “generator man” often connecting generators to someone’s dwelling.
He enjoyed hunting in the Idaho woods with his oldest daughter, enjoying many moments together. Several years ago, Evan fulfilled his dream of building his own home together with his family. He had a meticulous nature and whatever he set his mind to he could accomplish.
Those left with cherished memories are his wife Lillian, daughters Layla Sue and Aliyah Noelle, son Jaeger Jon, parents Russell and Nancy Koehn, siblings Chadlynn and Rachael Koehn, Candace and Shalyn Unruh and Seth and Katelyn Koehn, mother-in-law Rosetta Schmidt, Lillian’s siblings Lonnie Schmidt, Bonnie and Wayne Koehn, Tim and Isabell Schmidt and Ralph and Delorie Schmidt, sister in law Sheila Schmidt, nieces, nephews and many friends.
Preceding him in death are father-in-law Milferd Schmidt, brother-in-law Wesley Schmidt and sister-in-law Vanessa Escalante.