Denise Koehnen

Denise Fay Koehnen, 60, of Brainerd, died October 8, 2012 peacefully at her home following a long battle with cancer. Services for Denise will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, October 12, 2012 at Park United Methodist Church in Brainerd with Pastor Brenda King officiating. Family and friends are invited to gather Thursday evening from 5-7 PM at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter and one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.

Denise was born December 7, 1951, in Algona, IA, the daughter of Howard and Betty (Struthers) Stoddard. Denise was married to Kenneth W. Resch. The couple had two children before he passed away. In 1985, Denise married Jeff Koehnen. The couple lived in Nevis for many years, before moving to the Brainerd Lakes Area. She worked for a number of years as an LPN at St. Joseph's Hospital in Park Rapids before working in the Mills Corporate office at a file clerk for 16 years. She enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially gardening and bird watching. She liked to watch sporting events - and was an avid Minnesota Vikings fan. She was very active with her children - always supporting their activities, such as football, basketball, baseball, plays, knowledge bowl and Boy Scouts of America. She attended Park United Methodist Church.

She will be missed by her husband, Jeff; mother, Betty Happel, of Baxter; sons, Kevin (Dawn) Resch, of Burnsville and Bryan Resch, of Lee's Summit, MO; sister, Donna (Roy) Meador, of Spring Harbor, MI; brothers, DeWane (Cathy) Stoddard, of Big Stone City, SD and David Stoddard, of Golden Valley; grandson, Vincent Resch; step-granddaughter, Tesla; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Kenneth W. Resch and her father, Howard.