Obituaries

Katherine Elaine (Steinle) Gohr, age 83, of Mountain Lake, died on September 21, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Society in Mountain Lake.

A celebration of her life will be held at Sturm Funeral Home, Mountain Lake Chapel, on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 11:00 am with visitation one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The clergy will be Rev. Rick Bremseth. Interment will be at the Mountain Lake City Cemetery.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Mountain Lake. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Kay was born August 15, 1940 to David F. and Doris (Jacobson) Steinle in Mountain Lake. She was baptized March 30, 1947 and confirmed April 11, 1954 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mountain Lake. Kay attended public school in Mountain Lake. She was united in marriage to the love of her life, George A. Gohr, on May 18, 1956 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. Together, they lived a simple, yet rich, life while raising three children.

Kay was first a mom and a homemaker. She then worked at the Good Samaritan Society in Mountain Lake for many years where she made many wonderful lifetime friends. She was self-educated and would read anything she could check out of the library! She particularly liked archaeology, local history, and WWII history. Kay loved collecting knick-knacks and decorated her home each season and holiday with them. She had a very patriotic spirit and loved celebrating the 4th of July holiday. Most of all, Kay valued her family above everything else. She loved nothing more than to spend time visiting with family and friends while sharing a good laugh.

Kay is survived by her son, George F. Gohr of Mountain Lake; daughters, Eileen (Kent) Augustin of Comfrey and Karla Wendt of Mountain Lake; grandchildren, Jack Wendt and special friend, Carolina Baskette, Brady (Adelaide) Augustin, and Brooke Augustin; great-grandson, Dylan Augustin Coley; and cousin-sister, Glenna Steinle Joyce.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents David F. Steinle and Doris Steinle Berndt; husband, George A. Gohr; infant daughter, Laura Jean Gohr; brother, David A. Steinle; and son-in-law, Michael Wendt, and many other family and friends.

Melvin Jacob Loewen was born in Steinbach Manitoba on December 9, 1925 to Jacob T. and Margaret (Friesen) Loewen. He grew up with an older brother, C. Wilbert, and a younger sister, Emmeline.

As a young man Mel accepted Jesus as his personal savior and enjoyed a life-long conversation with his Lord and Friend. At age 18 he became foreman of a crew in the family business of moving houses and grain elevators.

Prompted by his mother, who had grade three education, he enrolled in Goshen College in 1946. Two years later he met Elfrieda Regier, a student visiting from Wheaton College, at an ice-cream party. They were engaged while Elfrieda taught high-school chemistry and biology and Mel finished college. They were married in 1949.

During the next decade Mel completed a master’s degree in medieval history at the U of Minnesota, and taught high school. With their growing family he and Elfrieda did a first term in Africa under the Congo Inland Mission. On their first furlough at the University of Brussels, Mel completed his Ph.D. in political science.

In the mid ‘60s the Loewen family was held hostage for four months in Stanleyville, Congo, where Mel was dean and later president of the Congo Protestant University. The following two-and-a-half years in California were a pleasant interlude while Mel was academic dean at Fresno Pacific University.

In 1970 Mel joined the World Bank where he held a variety of operational positions, starting out in Cote d’Ivoire, ending in Rwanda, and in between in Washington, D.C. After retirement in 1990 Mel and Elfrieda traveled extensively with the Mennonite Christian Leadership Foundation to encourage lay men and women of the emerging churches of Africa and Asia.

Mel died September 8, 2023 in Goshen Indiana. He is survived by his children, Barbara, Margaret, John, James, and Lisa; by his children-in-law, Nancy, Bob, Wendy, and Joe; and by his sister, Emmeline. His wife, Elfrieda, his son Jacob Gerard, and his brother, Wilbert, predeceased him. In addition, he is survived by his eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Mel was buried September 20 in Steinbach, Manitoba, joining recently deceased Elfrieda. In keeping with Mel’s lifelong interest in Africa and in education, memorial contributions can be made at www.educationcongo.org. Please see the “Named Fund” option.