Althea Louise Koenig of Defiance, loving wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on Monday,  February  1, 2016 at Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.   She was born on October 1, 1928 to Henry and Louise Berning in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.  She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Defiance and was active in its Ladies Aid, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, Ladies Auxiliary, and as a Cub Scout Den Mother.  She assisted her husband in the startup of a mission congregation, Redeemer Lutheran Church in Highland, Indiana in 1952.  She attended Valparaiso University and graduated from Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing, and worked as a Registered Nurse before becoming a mother and homemaker.  

Althea is survived by her husband of  63 years, Rev. David R. Koenig, sister Anita Schroer of Ft. Wayne, sons Michael (Terry) of Paulding, Mark of New Albany, IN, and Andrew of Defiance, along with four grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Infant children Thomas and Cynthia, brothers Donald and Leland Berning, and sister Marguerite McDaniel.

Visitation will be held Thursday, February 4, 2016 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, and 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Schaffer Funeral Home, Defiance, and for one hour prior to services at the church.  Funeral services will be held on February 5, 2016 at 11:00 am at St. John Lutheran Church, Defiance,  with Rev. Donald L. Luhring and Rev. Jeffrey Wade officiating.  Burial will take place in Riverside Cemetery, Defiance.
Memorials are suggested to St. John Lutheran Church and the Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice.