Reuben Ben Kohn, 1929-2007

Rueben Benjamin Kohn was born Oct. 20, 1929 to Ferdinand and Mabel Kohn. He was born in Edmonton but was raised on a farm near Millet, Alta. He was the sixth of 10 children. After finishing high school, Ben worked at various jobs around Alberta and across the country. He wanted to be a pilot but was rejected because of his deafness but the Air Force trained him in electronics and he worked at radar bases, mostly in Eastern Canada and the Arctic. Ben was married while in the Forces to Marilyn Cameron with whom he had seven children. His wife died of cancer when the youngest was 18 months old. He later married Sheila Eastland with whom he had three children. This marriage ended in divorce. While in the Air Force, Ben worked in electronics. When he left the Air Force he worked for Sears in repair of electronic equipment such as TVs, recording equipment and other home entertainment components. After leaving the Air Force, Ben worked in Ontario for Sears, then decided to move the family back to Alberta. He settled in Edmonton where he continued to work for Sears. Later, he decided to join some of his family in High Prairie where he began his own business called Ben’s TV. There, he fixed much electronic equipment and installed many TV aerials all over the Peace Country around High Prairie. While in High Prairie, Ben was active in a number of organizations. He was a loved and valued active member of the United Church. He was a member of the Christian Business Men’s Fellowship. He was a Toastmaster. He belonged to the Square Dance Club. He did a lot of work with and for the High Prairie Association of Community Living and with Marigold Enterprises. He was a member of the museum. Ben was a very talented man. He could fix most anything. He did carpentry, plumbing, mechanics and many other skills. After retiring from his electronics career, he became a handyman in the community where he helped many people by doing small and larger repairs around their homes. He was always busy doing something. He loved a good joke and had a wonderful sense of humour. He enjoyed meeting the “gang” for coffee and trying to solve the problems of the day. In 1989, Ben and Mary Goede were married and thus joined two large families. During the 18 years they were married, Ben and Mary had a good life sharing many interests. They did some traveling, mostly to family in Canada and the United States. Mostly they enjoyed the friends and family around High Prairie. Ben died Oct. 20, 2007 at age 78. Ben was loved by family and friends and will be greatly missed. Ben is survived by: his sisters Lillian, Martha and Lila; his brother Edward; his children and families: David, Melinda, Ian (Joanne), Bruce (Leanne), William (Mary), Sandra (Rick) Sweeney, Jeffrey (Brenda), Amanda (Chris) Narbonne, Eric, Julie (Rick); and grandchildren Dustin, Zachary, Ethan, Noah, Lindsay, Michael, Jasmine, Jerry, Amanda, Brandy, Scott, Madison, Jacob, MacKenzie, Alexander, Chad and Aleisha; and several great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

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