Bessie Lou Koehn

Bessie Lou (Hagy) Koehn, 90 of Rockford, passed away on Monday, September 26, 2022, surrounded by her family. She was born on June 7, 1932, in Vansant, Virginia, the daughter of Stewart V. and M. Pearl (Nickels) Hagy. Bess grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and graduated from Berea College in Kentucky with a degree in Home Economics Education. A teaching job took her to Scales Mound, IL where she met and married James H. Koehn on June 4, 1955. After Jim completed his master’s degree in DeKalb, Illinois, they moved to Rockford, Illinois where they raised three daughters and lived out their lives. One of their daughters, Kathy had special needs and Bess’s hard work, and dedication provided her with a great quality of life. When Kathy started school, Bess volunteered countless hours to assist many children in special education programs. Bess is survived by her daughters, Deborah (Brenda Borkenhagen) Koehn and Sandra (Mark) Green, her two granddaughters, Rosalie and Evelyn Green, sisters-in-law Verneal (late John) Korn of Rockford, IL, Juanita (late Jerry) Hagy of Boiling Springs, SC, Diann (late Ralph Hagy) Blankenship of Grundy, VA, Violet (late James) Hagy of Knoxville, TN, several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Bess was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her daughter Kathy, and infant son David. She was also preceded in death by all her siblings, Lena (Luther) Keen, Bernice (Dallas) Conner, Rosa Lee (Fred) Smith, James Hagy, Jerry Hagy, and Ralph Hagy. Funeral service will be Saturday, October 1, 2022, at Court Street United Methodist Church, 215 N. Court St., Rockford, Il 61103, at 11:00 am. Visitation will be held on Saturday at 10:00 am in the church until the time of the service. Interment to follow at Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Milestone, Inc. 4060 McFarland Rd., Rockford, Il 61111. To express condolences online please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com