Ludwig Koenen

Ludwig Koenen, Ph.D., of Ann Arbor, passed away on 5/9/2023. He was born in Cologne Germany on April 5, 1931 and received his PhD in Classics at the University of Cologne in 1957 and Habilitated in Classics in 1968. He held various academic positions until 1975 when he came to the University of Michigan as a full Professor of Papyrology. He was named to a collegiate professorship in 1989 and to the Herbert C. Youtie Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Papyrology in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts in 1995. He retired from active faculty status in 2000 but continued his research work until his passing. Professor Koenen was among a handful of classical scholars internationally acclaimed as editor and interpreter of text that have come down to us as papyrus, parchment and stones. He was widely acknowledged as one of the most distinguished papyrologists worldwide and admired for his broad scholarly range from Greek and Roman literature to documentary text.

He leaves behind his wife of 67 years Margret Koenen (Bolder), his son Klaus Koenen of Erftstadt Germany, his daughter Margarete Koenen of Ann Arbor Michigan, his son Heinrich Koenen of Chardon Ohio, his son Marcus Koenen of Brisbane California, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Ludwig’s family and friends will gather on Sunday June 4, 2023 from 3:00pm – 5:00pm at the family home in Ann Arbor.