Heavenly Father must have needed a very special spirit when he called Joseph E. Koeven to come home to him on October 24, 1996.
Joe was born on August 4, 1932 in Georgetown, Idaho to Isaac and Rachel Koeven. Attended Junior High; High School in Logan, Utah.He served his country in the Korean War.
He served an LDS mission in South Africa.
He married his Eternal sweetheart, Rebecca Lamb, July 30, 1954, in the Logan Temple. She was the love of his life.
Joe graduated from Utah State University with a bachelors degree, then earned his masters degree and EDS degree from University of Utah. He was a dedicated employee of the Tooele County School District, as a teacher and principal until his retirement in 1987.
He served in many church positions in the Tooele 6th Ward, including counselor to two bishops, and in the High Counsel, but his favorite calling was teaching the High Priests Quorum.
In 1960, he and his family built Koeven Greenhouses, and he has run the business for 36 years, working before and after school, and full time since his retirement.
His joys were his family, and fishing and camping with them.
Joe is survived by his wife, Rebecca; children, Steve and Debra West, Tooele; Gary and Brenda Smith, Centerville, Utah; Kathy Koeven, Aurora, Colo.; Gary and Cheryl Koeven, Washington, Utah; his grandchildren, Brandon and Wendy West; Brian, Cynthia, Lisa and Kristine Smith; Steven, Nathan, Kevin and Kathryn Koeven; sisters and brother, Sheila Maservy; Theone Miles; Phillip Koeven; and Mary Steck; brothers and sisters-in-law, Russell and Lois Reeder; Lionel and Donna Benson; and many nieces; nephews; cousins and friends.
Those waiting to meet him on the other side are his parents; sister, Kay Boehme; brother, Amos Koeven; and grandson, Justin West.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Monday, October 28, 1996, in the Tooele Stake Center, 253 So. 200 East, Tooele, Utah. Friends and family may call from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, October 27, 1996 at the Tate Mortuary, 110 So. Main, Tooele, Utah or one hour prior to the services at the Stake Center. Interment, Tooele City Cemetery.
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