January 10, 2022 – West Bend, WI – James “Jack” Martin Koehn, 90, passed away with his family by his side on January 8, 2022. He was born August 5, 1931, to Walter and Frances (nee Wanner) Koehn in Milwaukee, WI. His family later moved to West Bend where Jack graduated from West Bend High School in 1949.
Jack enlisted in the United States Air Force after graduation where he proudly served for four years. Due to his experience in watchmaking, he was assigned to work on the instrumentation of military aircraft, while also finding time to work his side gig fixing officer’s watches. He was stationed in various locations, but most notably Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands where he participated in Operation Ivy, the testing of the Atomic Bomb. He was honorably discharged in 1954.
Jack met the love of his life, Janet, while she was attending Mount Mary College, and he was home on leave from the Air Force. They were later married on September 8, 1956, at Holy Angels Church in West Bend. Jack worked with his father at what was then called Walter J. Koehn and Son Jewelers. He expanded the one-shop operation to six stores and renamed it Koehn & Koehn Jewelers as part of the expansion. He would later sell five of the stores and retired in 1999 after selling the flagship store to his son, Andy, who continues to operate it today. (He often said the happiest memories of the jewelry store were his customers.)
After retiring from the jewelry business, Jack earned his real estate broker’s license so he could continue to interact with clients and friends throughout West Bend.
Jack also served on the Board of M&I Bank, was a proud member of the Loyal Order of the Moose, the Wisconsin State Jewelers Association, and many others.
Jack and Janet enjoyed traveling in their younger years, but ultimately Jack found comfort in being home around his family. A lover of cars and boats, he often bought and sold simply because he enjoyed the process. Jack loved Big Cedar Lake and always looked forward to a cocktail on a quiet deck with his Wife.
Jack is survived by his six children, Candy (Craig) Devenport, Heidi (Michael) Wisnefske, Susan (Thomas) Lathers, Peter(Catherine) Koehn, Andrew (Jenn) Koehn, and Kevin (Susan) Koehn; his 19 grandchildren: Kristin (Torey), Brian (Kaila), Robert (Erin), Matthew (Stacey), Al (Erin Clancy), Peter, Jake (Anna), Lauren, Sam (Melanie), Kelly (Justin), Michael (Jennifer Felder), Olivia (Justin), Margret Mary, Anna, DJ, Teagan, Caroline, Andrew, and Lucy; and 11 great-grandchildren, with two more on the way. He is further survived by his brothers John (Ruth) Koehn and Gary (Kathy) Koehn, sister-in-law Kimberly Koehn, brothers-in-law Randy McNally and Pat (Alice) Kenny as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Janet; parents, Walter and Frances; brother, Ronald Koehn, daughter-in-law Laura Wolf-Koehn, and other friends and relatives.
A private family gathering will be held to celebrate Jack’s life on Monday, January 17, 2022. Inurnment will follow at Washington County Memorial Park.