Our Mother, Grandmother and Great-grandmother, Rosa Leanna Mastre Koehn Holdeman was born on October 3, 1924, to Albert and Bessie Mastre at Grafton, North Dakota. She peacefully passed on to her reward - the early morning hours on December 18th, 2025, surpassing her 101st birthday which she still celebrated with family and friends.

Mother recounted many happy childhood memories, growing up on a farm near the small village of Mandt, ND where she attended a country school.

At the age of 13, she together with two of her sisters committed her life to Christ and were baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite on September 8, 1937, by Min. F.F. Haynes.

The family moved to Galva, Kansas in 1938 where she completed the 8th grade. Her family owned and operated Galva Cash Service. Here Mother learned to be of service to others while helping in the family business. Here she met our father and was united in marriage to Alfred E. Koehn on October 26th, 1941, by Minister Jonas B Koehn at the Lonetree Church.

After their marriage they resided in central Kansas for a few years, where the first two children were born then moved west to Scott County KS where they farmed for 8 years. Here two daughters joined the family. Tired of the prairie dust, they responded to the attraction of a new congregation at Almena, Wisconsin, purchasing a dairy farm. The family moved in the Fall of 1956. There they were blessed with three more sons. Our parents shared life’s joys and sorrows for 51 years till Dad’s passing on March 12, 1993.

Mother’s gift of hospitality was further expressed as a faithful deacon’s wife. By example, she taught us to love strangers, the less fortunate and the needy often including them at our Sunday dinner table and for Holidays.

Cooking became her hobby in later years as she experimented with new recipes and shared them with whomever she could.

Annual trips as a family are special memories. Mom and Dad loved to travel. A crowning experience was a trip to Europe in 1992.

A unique bond was formed with the Brazil Congregations as our parents went there many times from 1976 – 1991. Sometimes spending the winter months with Veril’s family. Mother loved the Brazil climate and foods.

After Dad’s passing various girls made their home with Mother. She enjoyed each one’s companionship, especially her granddaughter Corinne.

In 2003, Mother, desiring to leave the Northern Winters and be near her siblings, moved to Moundridge, Ks. Here she made many friends and enjoyed the special times spent with her siblings.

On May 27, 2005 she married her widowed brother-in-law, Willard Holdeman. They moved into Sunrise Apartments four years later. They enjoyed this companionship for 7 years until Willard passed on in 2012.

Mother continued to live her life to the fullest, inviting company into her apartment and making goodies to share with Moundridge Manor staff and coffee hour. Later she transferred to the Manor where she received excellent care for three years.

In August 2022 it seemed best for her to relocate to Autumn Leaves Assisted Living in Cumberland, WI to be near several of her children and grandchildren. This was a coming home for her and she especially enjoyed her 100th birthday party with many of her descendants.

A special thank you to the Autumn Leaves staff for their loving, tender care in her last days.

Those left behind are her children Shirley (Lyndon) Koehn, Cumberland, WI: Janet (Melvin) Mazelin, Monterey, TN; Lorraine (Lee) Friesen, Hazelton, ID; Richard (Ella) Koehn, Almena, WI; Calvin (Anna Mae) Koehn, Almena, WI and Belleville, PA; Clifford Koehn, Chetek, WI; a daughter-law, Ileen Koehn, Rio Verdino, Brazil; 31 grandchildren, 108 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great grandchildren; a sister, Lois Nightengale, and Willard’s family.

She was preceded in death by both husbands, a son, Veril, a foster daughter, Annie, one great grandson, two brothers and three sisters.

Memorials can be made to Autumn Leaves Assisted Living.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 Monday, Dec. 22, 2025 at Gospel Mennonite Church, Almena with Minister officiating. Burial will be in Bethany Cemetery, Comstock. Visitation will be from 3:30-5 PM and 6-8PM Sunday, December 21, 2025, at Gospel Mennonite Church and for 10-10:30 AM on Monday.

Last Update: Dec 19, 2025 9:32 am CST