William Koch
June 27 1929 - February 8 2005
Visitation :
John Quint Treboni Funeral Home
Thursday February 10th 2005 5:00-9:00 PM
1177 W. 5th Avenue
Columbus Ohio 43212
Services:
Mass of Christian Burial
Friday February 11th 2005 at 10:00 am
Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church
1559 Roxbury Road
Columbus
, Ohio 43212
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Obituary
William "Bill" Frederick Koch, Sr., age 75, died peacefully on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 at his home in Marble Cliff after courageously battling diabetes, heart disease and pulmonary fibrosis. Bill was born on June 27, 1929 in Cleveland, Ohio to Helen and Arthur Koch, Sr., raised in Broadview Heights on a small farm, graduating from Broadview Heights-Brecksville High School in 1947, where he was inducted in 1985 as a charter member of its Athletic Hall of Fame. He attended Ohio University on a football scholarship and graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science in Social Studies and Education. Bill taught high school at his alma mater, 1952-1956 and enjoyed coaching football, basketball and baseball. Bill married his bride Elaine(Harris) in 1952 and they relocated to Columbus in 1956 when he joined Industrial Nucleonics(Accuray/ABB) as a recruiter. After 23 years of service, Bill left Accuray as the Director of Personnel and joined Tosoh SMD, Grove City, as Vice President of Human Resources, retiring in 1995. Nearly 40 years of personnel management afforded him opportunities to touch many lives with his humor, good nature, fairness and innate ability to successfully match jobs to employees. Bill lived in Marble Cliff and was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Parish for 38 years. Dedicated to community service, Bill was elected and served as a Clinton Township Trustee (1961-1967), Grandview Heights Board of Education (1971-1975) and Marble Cliff Village Council (1975-1995). He volunteered with the Grandview Bobcat Boosters (1970-1985), served as Director with the GHMC Historical Society and was active in the St. Vincent De Paul Society. Bill often strolled the neighborhood, in recent years by golf cart, and had a wave hello for everyone and an opinion on most everything. He rarely missed Monthly Friday night poker club in over 25 years. He was a skillful participant in Grandview Parks & Recreation Volleyball League and a proud spectator at his children's athletic events. He cultivated the sweetest tomatoes and the tallest impatiens. Living with character and integrity, he daily practiced his philosophy of "do the right thing". A loving husband and dedicated father, he is preceded in death by his wife after 46 years of marriage. Memories will be treasured by their six children and spouses-Kim(Matt)Toussant of Upper Arlington; William, Jr.(Patti Swope) of Kentucky; Kay (Sam Ferrise)Koch of Nebraska; Terry(Jan)of Solon, Ohio; Karen(Dave)Wright of Clintonville; Katherine(Brian)Gatch of New Albany- and 13 grandchildren. Free of physical pain, Bill is now rejoined with his wife in Heaven with the Lord. Friends may call Thursday February 10th, 2005 at the JOHN QUINT TREBONI FUNERAL HOME, 1177 W. 5th Avenue, from 5:00-9:00 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 AM on Friday February 11th, 2005 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 1559 Roxbury Road, Msgr. Romano Ciotola, Celebrant. FRIENDS ARE ASKED TO MEET AT CHURCH. PRIVATE FAMILY interment at the St. Joseph Cemetery, 6440 South High Street, Lockbourne, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, friends who wish may contribute in memory of William to the St. Vincent De Paul Society of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 1559 Roxbury Road, Columbus Ohio, 43212. Condolences may be sent via www.johnquint.com.
Contributions
Contributions may be directed to any of the followingCondolences for William Koch
From : Sally Dellinger
To : Kay, Karen, and Family
Date: February 9th 2005
I know it is a difficult time for you and your family.
May you find comfort and strength in your memories of your father.
From :
To : Kim, Bill, Terry, Kay, Karen and Kathy
Date: February 9th 2005
From : Chrissy (Koch) Kehoe
To : Kim, Bill, Terry, Kay, Karen and Kathy
Date: February 9th 2005
I am thinking of all of you at this sad time. Your Dad was a terrific person, so full of life and joy. I was lucky to have him as an Uncle. I will miss him and always think fondly of him and your Mother.
I wish I could extend these thoughts in person, but I regret that I will not be able to get to Columbus for the services.
My sympathies and prayers,
Chrissy
From : Bruce Walcott
To : The Kochs
Date: February 10th 2005
To a great family that I got to grow up with, my thoughts are with you.
Sincerely, Bruce
From : The Reiss Family
To : The Koch Family
Date: February 10th 2005
On behalf of our family, we express our deepest condolences to your family. Both Elaine and Bill were special people and will always be fondly remembered. They were especially kind and compassionate to our family.
We moved to Columbus in 1972 not having any family or friends in the area. Our family was fortunate to have met such accepting and generous people. We will always owe a debt of gratitude for the kindness extended to our family.
We are especially grateful for the happiness our parents experienced together through their circle of friends, which included Elaine and Bill.
Our fathers shared much in common, including having their wives precede them in death. I believe they gained strength from each other to persevere after such a heartbreaking loss.
Bill and our father continued their close friendship although they were separated by miles. The friendship was so strong that despite his health condition Bill was a pall bearer at our father’s funeral to help carry him to his final resting place.
We experienced a similar comfort knowing our parents have been reunited in Heaven to share their spiritual lives together.
Celebrate his life, cherish his memories and the lives he touched along the way.
We will continue to hope and pray for your family.
From : Tim and Sue O'Dougherty
To : Kate / Brian and the Koch family
Date: February 10th 2005
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
From : Mike and Linda Casasanta
To : The Koch Family
Date: February 10th 2005
We are so sorry for your loss. May your many memories help you all to cope with the days ahead. I'll always remember your dad at track meets and serving on school board with Tank.We are unable to attend the calling hours,but our thoughts are with you.
From : Rory Cusack
To : Kim Toussant and family
Date: February 10th 2005
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
From : Linda.syguda@careworks.com
To : Kim Toussant and family
Date: February 11th 2005
Sorry to hear of your father's passing. I know he will always be remembered by all of you, each with your own special memories. I'll remember him coming to Ben's games. He reminded me of my own father in so many ways and how devoted they were to their grandkids. My heart is with you. Linda
From : Ed and Mary Salasek, Phoenix, Arizona
To : The William Koch Family
Date: February 12th 2005
Our prayerful condolences . . . May you rest in peace, dear Bill.
From : Elaine Vanas (Salasek)
To : The Koch Family
Date: February 12th 2005
Dear Koch's...Kim, Bill, Kaye, Terry, Karen and Kathy,
I was so saddened when I heard of U. Bill's passing. What a fine individual he was and a role model to the Salasek kids! Dear "Uncle Dudley" was a lifelong friend of my dad's, a dear friend to my mom and we will all miss him.
Last summer, I was up from Arizona and was so glad to spend a few hours visiting with your dad. My parents, Teresa (also in from AZ), and I drove down to Columbus in July for a visit. We were unable to attend U. Bill's big birthday bash in June, 2004 because we had a funeral to attend in Youngstown. However, it worked out since we had our own special private time with your dad (but it would have been great to see you all).
Anyway, typical of your dad, he was warm, gracious, loving, funny and we had a wondrous afternoon swapping stories etc....never get my dad started down memory lane!
U. Bill shared pictures from the b'day party and we got to see all the beautiful family photos that were displayed in the family room. We also were happy to see Karen who popped over.
When A. Elaine died (and my husband John's A. Grace died a few days later), we had 2 ficus trees planted in our back yard. We named them Elaine and Grace. Now we'll add U. Bill with your mom. This past Xmas I sent your dad a card along with a family photo, and we were standing next to the Koch tree!
In closing, it's difficult to see a loved one and especially a parent suffer. U. Bill endured a lot and although he will be greatly missed, he is pain free, in heaven and overjoyed with being reunited with your mom and God.
My deepest sympathies to all the Koch's and your families.
Love,
Elaine, John and Christine
(Salasek/Vanas)
From : Hal Saffell
To : The Family of Bill Koch
Date: February 14th 2005
I was saddened to read of Bill's death.
He and I first met in 1965, both working in personnel management. From then until his retirement, we would be in touch from time to time, as I placed people and did outplacement work at Accuray and Tosoh.
I do not need to tell you that Bill was one prince of a guy. I know that all of you children, your spouses, and your children will miss him greatly.
May God give him and your Mother eternal life, and give comfort to your family at this difficult time.
From : Susie Rosso-Barbo
To : Kay Koch
Date: February 17th 2005
Hello long lost friend, very sorry to hear of your Father's passing. I know you are going through a very painful time. My condolences to you and your family.
Most sincerely, Susie
From : Jerry Grinstead
To : William Koch Family
Date: February 18th 2005
Is there anyone from Grandview who did not know Bill Koch? I am very sorry for your loss and wish you well.
Jerry Grinstead
Citrus Heights, CA
From : Aunt Ann
To : Family of Bill
Date: March 2nd 2005
My brother Bill was special in so many ways.Most of all he gave our family of Kochs six wonderful children and he gave me a beautiful sister-Elaine.God love you all, and God bless Bill. Auntie