Obituary of Vernon Francis Koenighain

Vernon Francis Koenighain, 69, of Oxford, died Monday, November 23, 2020, at home with his family. Public graveside services with military honors will take place at Oxford Cemetery in Oxford at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, December 1st. Online condolences may be sent to his family through the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com. Private family services will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday at St. Michael's Church in Holbrook, Iowa. The services will be livestreamed for friends and extended family. Please share your support and memories with Vern’s family and find a link to the livestream details on his Livestream Link at www.gayandciha.com under obituaries. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in his memory. Vernon Francis Koenighain was born January 31, 1951 in Iowa City, the son of Donald and Leona (Kutcher) Koenighain. He attended and graduated from high school in Williamsburg. Following high school, he was drafted into the United States Army. On April 11, 1970, Vern married Bonnie J. Schropp at St. Michaels Church in Holbrook. The couple has spent their lives farming near Oxford. He also spent his whole life farming Koenighain farms with his brother. Here Vern especially took great pride in his Black Angus cattle and horses. He enjoyed much in his life, he was a true craftsman creating and building anything from machinery to projects for Bonnie. He enjoyed hand fishing, sharing his stories with family and friends (sometimes if not most of the time, quite animated). He was a man who did not know a stranger, and would do anything to help anyone, but nearest to his heart was his family and friends! Kayla said it best "I don’t even know where to begin. It feels all surreal. This man was one helluva cowboy. He’s going to be greatly missed by so many. His laughter was always so contagious, and if you were a stranger, he could talk to you for hours like he knew ya all his life. Vern has taught me so many valuable life lessons. As well as so many that made him the ornery fella that he was. If I could say anything to him right now it might be, “God bless ya and simply thank you for so many memories." I will never regret all those times that Jordan and I drove you and grandpa absolutely nuts. I know we’ll see each other again someday and when we do I’ll make sure to bring some good stories to share. But for now, fly high and straighten that barbed wire halo and enjoy paradise. Love ya Uncle Vern.” His family includes his wife, Bonnie; sons, Mike (Stacey) Koenighain, and Chad (Stacy) Koenighain; grandchildren, Lindsay, Zoe, and JD Koenighain, and Blake, Cameron and Carter Koenighain; sisters, Rose Finnegan and Carol Hansen and brothers, Gene (Delores) Koenighain Donald “Mick” (Jeanie) Koenighain and Leon (Marilyn) Koenighain. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law, Vince Finnegan; niece, Jennifer Koenighain and nephew Shawn Finnegan.