Date of Birth: March 20, 1936
Date of Death: November 6, 2017
KOHNEN – Gregory Edward Scott Kohnen, beloved husband of Vicky Kohnen, entered his eternal rest peacefully with family at his side on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017 at St. Peter’s Hospital in Melville at the age of 81 years.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Melville with Pastor Doug Schmirler Officiating.
Greg was born March 20, 1936 on the family farm at Langenburg, SK. He attended Union Hill country school for his first seven years then moved on to Langenburg to complete his Grade 12, graduating in 1954.
Through his school years he worked side by side with his father assisting in running the family farm. After graduation he ventured off to the oilpatch and worked for two years. However, after deciding that wasn’t the life for him, he attended Success Business College in Winnipeg and received his diploma in accounting graduating with Honours.
Following his graduation, he started working for Greenfield Motors in Balcarres and that is where he met his wife, Dorthea Birk. They were married in 1959 and in 1960 their son, Jeffrey was born, followed by their daughter Shelley in 1963. In 1965 they moved to Yorkton where Greg started his career in the automotive industry. In 1967 he purchased the Ford dealership in Melville known as Melville Motors Ltd., which remained in operation for just six months short of 50 years.
After the passing of his wife Dorthea in 1973 he devoted his life to raising his two children and running the dealership. In 1976 he met Vicky Karchewski and her two children, Rob and Leslie. Greg and Vicky were married in 1976 blending two families together for a family of six.
During the last 40 years, he and his wife enjoyed many camping trips, many golf games and many travels abroad. They bought their first summer cottage at Crooked Lake in 1987, which brought many happy memories over the years. In 1998 they built their retirement home there and had 18 wonderful years meeting many new friends and enjoying the beauty of the Qu’Appelle Valley.
Greg leaves to mourn, his wife, Vicky; son, Jeffrey Kohnen (Colleen Rooney) and their children, Stewart and Sarah Jane; daughter, Shelley Bzowey and her children, Jessica, Mark and Daniel; son, Rob Karchewski (Laurie Dawson) and daughter, Leslie (Cory) Wiechnik and children, Carly, Jenna and Teagen ;as well as his one sister, Iris Simpson of Langenburg.
Memorials in memory of Greg may be made to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation or Stars Air Ambulance as gifts of remembrance.
Arrangements were by Bailey’s Funeral and Cremation Care, Melville.
