Paul Koehnke

Paul Koehnke Obituary

“Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” Paul Edward Koehnke, son of the late Carl and Margaret (Manke) Koehnke, arrived on July 23, 2022, at the age of 90, to the loving arms of his Savior and late wife, Alice R. (Meyer) Koehnke.

Paul was born on August 30, 1931, in North Tonawanda, NY and attended St. Mark’s Lutheran School where his father was teacher, principal, organist, and choir director. Following high school graduation, he attended Concordia University, Seward, NE from 1949 – 1953 where he met his future wife, Alice and they were married in 1954, settling in Manhattan Beach, CA. They celebrated 66 years of marriage.

Paul retired in 1993 after 32 years in fulltime education ministries of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Twenty-nine of those years were spent at St. John’s Lutheran Church and School in Orange, CA. where he served as teacher, coach, and administrator. He has been an inspirational Christian leader for all his Lutheran education career. Paul felt it important to spread his talents in the corporate world, working as a manager for American Airlines from 1956 to 1963. He also enjoyed a brief stint owning his own business.

A star athlete at Concordia University, he tried out for the St. Louis Cardinals and was inducted to Concordia’s Athletic Hall of Fame in the 1990’s. An avid fisherman, Paul enjoyed many summers camping with friends and family in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho fishing the Salmon River.

Surviving is son Paul J. and his husband, Jay Norvell of Charlotte, NC, daughter Gretchen Cariker of Orange, CA, son Peter and wife Mindy (Adams) of Anaheim, CA, and son Phillip and his wife Pam (Marty) Koehnke of Corona, CA; eight grandchildren Leah (Cariker) Santiago (Louis), Benjamin Koehnke (Paige), Rachel (Cariker) Alexander (Thomas), Zachary Koehnke (Courtney), Emily Cariker, Samuel Koehnke, Jordan Koehnke, and Jacob Koehnke; seven great-children Claire and Jack Alexander, McCoy, Marshall, Cora, and Chloe Koehnke, and Mila Koehnke; one sister-in-law Ellen (Meyer) Geisler of Mission Viejo, CA; many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Paul’s life begins with a reception and fellowship at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Friday, July 29 at 10:00 am in the courtyard adjacent to the church. A service follows at 11:00, with Vicar Micah Raebel officiating.

The family suggests memorials to St. John’s Lutheran Church Music Ministries – The Concert Series.

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