Katherine Koenig

Katherine Koenig February 11, 1936 ~ April 21, 2023 According to Katherine June Steinmark Koenig, she was born February 11, 1936, in Darr, Nebraska, although her birth certificate listed her birthplace as Cozad, Nebraska. She passed quickly and peacefully on April 21, 2023, in Wray, Colorado at the Community District Hospital. The cause of death was listed as secondary bacterial pneumonia. Her parents were both born in Russia and Katherine was a bona fide first generation American. Her mother, born Anna Marie Cler and her father Jacob Steinmark, had 4 daughters. The oldest was Bernice Marian who married Ross Floy, next came Katherine June who married David Koenig, third born was Louise Marian who married Willard Shepard and fourth and youngest was Barbara Jean who married Darrel Spence. Katherine was the last of these 8 people to pass away. She suffered from a hearing loss all her life due to a having whooping cough and German measles, also known as the "hard measles", while she was young. Her hearing was to worsen over time. So, she learned how to read lips to compensate, she wore hearing aids and for the last 18 years of her life she had a Cochlear ear implant in one ear. She grew up in Pine Bluffs Wyoming. She noted that many people would probably say she grew up in a very poor family. They never had anything very fancy and had a garden, chickens, and rabbits for food. And they bought goat milk from the neighbors to drink. However, she didn't remember ever being cold or hungry. She graduated from Pine Bluffs High School in 1954. She did babysitting, worked as a teacher's aid and as a waitress, and as a Soda Jerk preparing malts, sodas, banana splits, etc. She was confirmed in the Lutheran Church she attended in Pine Bluffs after attending classes in 1952-1955. Following High School, she became a bookkeeper for Guy Smith and Sons Hardware Store in Grover, Colorado. But it was back in Pine Bluffs at a dance where she met a Grover boy, named David Koenig. After a story-full romance, they were married on May 27, 1956, at the Grover Community Church. She was delighted with the wedding and adored the family she had married into. Marriage to an over the road truck driver meant going where the work was. In their first 5 years of marriage, they lived in 4 different towns. Their first child, Cynthia June was born in 1957 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, then Jacob Christian was born in 1958 in Kimball, Nebraska followed by Karla Marie in 1959 in Rawlins, Wyoming and their last child, Jeffrey Guy was born in 1961 in Gillette, Wyoming, where they lived until moving to Aurora, Colorado in 1967. In Aurora from 1967 through 1974 Katherine prepared tax returns for individuals. She took up bowling (which she was great at, winning many trophies and bowling high games and series). She also sold Avon and did cake decorating. As a housewife and homemaker, she made sure her children came home to a loving and happy home every day after school and like their parents before them, she and David never let the kids go hungry or cold. In 1974 they moved to Bennett Colorado and began work on building their own home. A couple who believed you should only buy what you could afford, they spent the next 4 years paying as they went and finally moved into that new home in January 1978. In 1982, she welcomed her first grandchild and started working at H&R block as an assistant bookkeeper, in 1988 she became head bookkeeper. On October 12, 1989, she lost her husband at the age of 56, she was only 53, she remained a widow the rest of her life. In 1992, she sold the house they built together and purchased a new home in Aurora where she served on the board of her new Home Owners Association. In 2011, she lost their daughter, Cynthia Barnes to colon cancer. She found solace in working very hard. Whether it be a paid position or taking care of her home, she was always a lady with lots to do. Her house was always neat, organized and clean. Her last 22 months were spent living in Wray, Colorado where she was still able to drive herself around in her own car and live alone. She took care of herself until the end. As stated before, she was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sisters and their husbands and her daughter. She was also preceded by her nephew George Shepard, niece Jodi Howton, nephew Clint Floy, brother in laws, Pete Hobbs and Alvin Koenig as well as her sister-in-law Chris Ellen Koenig Hobbs. She was called Oma, the German word for grandmother and she had 11 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. She is survived by her son Jacob and wife Pam Koenig; her daughter Karla Koenig-Campfield and husband Gary; her son Jeff and wife Dana Koenig; and son-in-law, Doug Barnes. Grandchildren include Brittney and husband Brady O'Neill, Tyler and wife Allie Barnes, Kayla and husband Michael Watson, Meagan and husband Mark Schmitt, Samuel Campfield and Leigh Thielen, Paul and wife Cassie Campfield, Levi Campfield, Julia Campfield, Anni and husband Dillion McElhinney, Korben Koenig, and Zoe Koenig and betrothed Alex Venditte. Great Grandchildren are Patrick, Kennedy, and Collins O'Neill; Jackson, Madison, and Bearison Barnes; Jacob, Reagan, and Carter Watson; Harper and Finley Schmitt; Max, Amelia, and Ruby Campfield. She is also survived by a wonderful group of in-laws, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, friends, and former neighbors. An internment will take place in Bennett, Colorado when her cremated remains will be laid next to her husband. Her memory will go on for all who knew her as a straight speaking, candid observer of life who was loved by her family and appreciated by her friends. Celebration of Life Memorial Service, Friday, April 28, 2023. Receiving Family & Friends at 10:00am, Celebration of Life Service at 11:00am, Romero Funeral ~ Chapel of Repose, 15150 E. Iliff Avenue, Aurora, CO. After Service there will be a Reception at the Romero Reception Hall. Previous Events Celebration of Life Memorial Service APR 28. 11:00 AM (MT) Romero Funeral Home ~ Chapel of Repose 15150 E. Iliff Avenue Aurora, CO 80014 Loading map Reception to Follow Service APR 28 (MT) Romero Funeral Home - Aurora Recption Hall 15150 E Iliff Avenue Aurora, CO 80014 Loading map