KOCH, Ernest F. 1920-1982

KOCH, SENNE, HOSTETTER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 12/29/2014 at 10:58:35

Ernest F. Koch, Lifelong Area Resident, Dies

Funeral services for Ernest F. Koch were held on Wednesday, September 8 at 1:30 p.m. at the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, northeast of Wellsburg.

Officiating was Rev. Cranston Gesell. Eldon Harms sang two selections. Mrs. Eldon Harms was accompanist and organist.

Pall bearers were Paul Koch, Allen Krull, Larry Koch, Mitchell Koch, Darrell Koch, and Dallas Koch. Mrs. Merle Whitmire and Mrs. Don Siefken were flower attendants.

Interment was made in the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery. The flag folding rites were conducted by the Wellsburg Amvets Post 91 and the Wellsburg American Legion Post 213.

Mr. Koch passed away around 5:30 Sunday afternoon, September 5 at the Marshalltown Area Community Hospital in Marshalltown following a lingering illness. He reached the age of 61 years, 8 months and 23 days.

He was born on a farm in Shiloh Township, northwest of Wellsburg, on December 12, 1920, the son of Henry and Louise (Senne) Koch and received his education in the rural school in the area.

On January 22, 1949, he was married to Elaine Hostetter at Yuma, Arizona. Following their marriage they lived on a farm in Colfax Township, rural Holland for two years and then worked for Herman Iblings for two years. In 1953 they farmed on the Koch home-place until March of 1974, at which time they moved to Wellsburg to make their home. This union was blessed with one son and two daughters.

Ernest served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of the Wellsburg Amvets Post 91 for many years.

After moving from the farm in 1974, he was employed at Norwesco Inc., Plastronics Division in Grundy Center until his health began to fail two years ago.

He was a member of the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Wellsburg and was baptized there on May 22, 1921 and confirmed in the church in the spring of 1938.

Preceding him in death were: his parents, four brothers, William, Dick, Fred and Henry Koch.

Survivors include his wife, Elaine; one son, Gerald Koch of Wellsburg; two daughters, Janice Koch of Wellsburg and Mrs. Scott (Marcia) Miller of Ackley; a grandson, Ryan Beenken; three sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Carlos (Louise) Lathrop of Oskaloosa, Mrs. Alfred (Helena) Krull of Wellsburg, Herman Koch of Wellsburg, Chris Koch of Holland, Mrs. James (Lorraine) Williams of Williamsburg; and many other relatives and friends.

Doyen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 16 September 1982, pg 15