Mildred was born in the Chicago suburb of Schiller Park, Illinois, September 27, 1927, to Harry and Florence Dahl. She was the youngest of three children. She was raised in a Christian home from the time her father experienced a dramatic conversion and led his family to Christ beginning in February, 1932.
She graduated from Austin High School in Chicago in 1946 and eventually worked in the mail order department of Sears and Roebuck. During that time, she was courted by Vernon Poehner, and after three proposals, she finally agreed to marry him in June of 1953. Vernon would often claim that he found his bride in the Sears catalog. They were married 66 years.
Mildred and Vernon raised three sons and a daughter. Career changes led the family to live in a variety of places, including California, New Mexico, Kentucky, Alabama and Pennsylvania. In retirement, Mildred served with Vernon in Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands, for Trans World Radio, in Missouri for Friends of New Tribes Missions, and in various ways at Covenant Living in Turlock, California.
Mildred was primarily a homemaker, but also worked as a certified nurses assistant for five years, and joined friend Ann Grench as an associate at the Classy Chef retail store in Lafayette, California, for three years.
When she was a teenager, she played the accordion and served food when her father preached at Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago. Many years later, she joined her father and her husband for services at Peniel Mission in Oakland, California, where she played the piano before they preached.
Mildred was preceded by her husband, Vernon; parents Harry and Florence Dahl; and brothers Harold and Walter Dahl. She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Les and Trish Poehner; son Ken Poehner and friend and former wife, Leslie Campbell; daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and David Walker; son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Victoria Poehner; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Monetary gifts may be sent to Covenant Living Benevolent Care Fund.
A graveside service for Mildred will be held Friday, February 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM at Turlock Memorial Park, 575 N Soderquist Rd, Turlock, CA 95380.
