Dorothy Koen

Dorothy Koen, of Austin, Texas, passed away on Wednesday, February 18, 2004. Mrs. Koen was born in Waco, Texas, February 24, 1902, the daughter of Charles and Rae Rosenthal. She graduated from the Waco Public Schools and Waco High School in 1921, and attended Ward Belmont College in Nashville, Tennessee where she studied music. On March 2, 1924, she married William Joe Koen, and moved to Austin. They were married sixty-seven years, until he passed away on June 29, 1989. Mrs. Koen was also preceded in death by her two daughters, Betty Koen Dannis and Carolyn Koen Turner, and her two brothers Rudolph and Harold Rosenthal of Ft. Worth. Mrs. Koen was the matriarch of her very large and extended family and will be greatly missed by all of those whose lives she touched. She is survived by her son Billy Koen and wife Cheryl of Ruidoso, New Mexico; son-in-law Dr.Milton Turner of Austin; and niece Regina Braunig of Shreveport, Louisiana.Granddaughters include Jann Turner Blitz and husband Russ of Birmingham, Alabama; Elin Dannis of Freemont, California; Lori Koen Goldberg and husband Mickey of Plano, Texas. Grandsons are Brad Koen and wife Sally, Bill Koen, Brian and Robert Turner, all of Austin; and Joe Dannis and wife Tina Joe of Solana Beach, California. She is also survived by seventeen great grandchildren – Jed, Ariel and Beryl Dannis of Solana Beach, California; Callie and Rebecca Blitz of Birmingham, Alabama; Brittney, Greer, and Brandon Goldberg of Plano, Texas; Kate, Andrew, Joe, Nick and Sam Turner, Claire and William Koen, Erin Watkins and Erik Nordling, all of Austin. A special mention needs to be made for Albina Pajestka, the Koen’s faithful and loving housekeeper, and friend for the past 56 years; to Dr. John Murray for his years of care; and to Eleanor Pack and the staff of Angel Health Care. Mrs. Koen was active in all facets of Austin’s society and community. She was involved in the Heritage Society of Austin, St. David’s Hospital Auxiliary, Austin Symphony League, The Headliners and Austin Club’s, and she was a long standing member of Congregation Beth Israel, for which she served as President of the Sisterhood. Mrs. Koen was voted “Best Dressed Woman” in Austin several years, and was active in her husband’s business, Joe Koen & Son Jewelers, Austin’s oldest family owned and operated business. Mrs. Koen was an avid recipe collector and loved to take out her fine china and silver to entertain. As her granddaughter Jann Blitz noted inside of The White House Cookbook, “Mrs. Koen, I’m sure that the White House can’t compare with the elegance, grace and wonderful meals that we’ve experienced at your house.” Serving as pallbearers will be Joe Dannis, Robert Turner, Brian Turner, William Koen III, Brad Koen, Russ Blitz, Mickey Goldberg, David Kuperman and Ramon Burstyn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Austin, the Koen-Turner Enrichment Fund at Congregation Beth Israel, or a charity of your choice. Services will be at 11:30 a.m., Friday, February 20th at Beth Israel II at Oakwood Cemetery. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78705 (512) 452-8811. You may view memorials online at www.wcfish.com