The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

Edna Irene Koellner died July 3, 2022, just three days short of reaching her 99th birthday.

She was born July 6, 1923 to John and Phoebe (Reed) Sewell in Rexford, Kan. She was the third of nine children.

Daughter, Jean, was born from her first marriage with Eldon Pascal.

While working as a waitress on Pearl Street in Boulder, Edna met the love of her life, Louis Koellner. They were married before he enlisted in the Marines during World War II. During the war, Edna worked at Remington Arms and Rocky Mountain Arsenal, both in Denver. After the war, they made their home in Loveland. They had five children.

Edna worked for Scientific, in Loveland, until the family moved to Haxtun in 1965 to open L & L Ready Mix. Edna also operated the Hide Out Café and managed the Rialto Theater. She was a very social person and loved talking with the teenagers and customers that frequented those businesses.

After Louis passed away in 1973, Edna returned to the Loveland/Fort Collins area and worked at HP and Toddy's Bakery before retiring. In her retirement, she spent time volunteering with Outreach. Edna was a long-time resident at Oakbrook Apartments where she had many friends. She was immensely proud of her family. Spending time with family and friends was her passion and delight and her huge smile and loving heart were her trademark. She had a positive effect on everyone she met and we were all so lucky to have known her.

Edna is survived by her children Lois and husband Ron Steely, Fort Collins, Mike and wife Laurine Koellner, Haxtun, and Rose and Gary Dick, Fort Collins; sister Joy Stephens and brothers Joseph and Richard. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren.

She is predeceased by her loving husband Louis Koellner; daughters Jean Pait and Daisy Gunn; son Robert Koellner; parents; sisters Florence Brown and Myrtle Lou Beasley; and brothers Lawrence, Verley and Donald.

Memorial services were held on July 9 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Fort Collins.