Lowell H. KOCI

KOCI, PRELL, CINER, URBATSCH, ARENDS, BURKART, PRATT

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/18/2011 at 00:54:48

April 26, 1921 --- July 7, 2004

Lowell H. "Bud" Koci, 83, Manly, died July 7, 2004. His body has been donated to the University of Iowa for medical study. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, July 17 at 11 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Manly, with Rev. Randy Nielsen officiating. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the services. The Edward Tosel American Legion Post #110 will conduct military rites.

Lowell was born April 26, 1921 on the family farm west of Grafton, the son of John and Laura (Prell) Koci. He attended Grafton School where he lettered in sports, graduating in 1939. He attended Iowa State University prior to enlisting in the United States Marine Corps on September 7, 1942. He served his country fighting in the Battle of Tarawa and was awarded a Purple Heart.

While on leave he married his sweetheart, Shirley Jeanne Ciner, on September 19, 1944 at the old Lutheran Church in Manly. The newlyweds were stationed in Hastings, NE and San Diego. Following his discharge in September 1945, the couple returned to the Manly area. Bud spent 37 years with Peoples Gas & Electric (later Interstate Power), including both gas and electrical work. He retired in 1983 as area manager of the Nora Springs office. A true people person, Bud gave of himself freely and wholeheartedly. He was a member of the Manly Pioneer Town & Country Club, Manly Retirement Apartment Board of Directors, North Central School Board, Manly Jaycees, Manly Volunteer Fire Department, and Manly Senior Citizens Taxi Service. He played Santa to local children during the American Legion holiday celebration. He was recently honored by the Edward Tosel American Legion Post for being a member in good standing for 60 years. Bud bowled in numerous leagues throughout the area and participated in numerous card clubs. He loved to fish, and took twice yearly fishing trips to Canada. He also loved to hunt and golf, and on a particularly good day on the greens he would come home with a turtle. Bud was well known for his ability to catch and cook turtles and he loved to host large "turtle feeds." Both vegetables and flowers did well in Bud's many gardens. In later years he took much enjoyment in bird watching.

Bud loved his family most of all. While growing up his two daughters could always count on him for unconditional love and support. Bud delighted his girls with car ride sing alongs, winter picnics, massive candy making marathons, bag swings, adventurous vacations, evening fires and moon gazing. He welcomed his sons-in-law into his family and found delight in his five grandchildren and one great grandson.

Preceding him in death were his parents and brother-in-law Harley Urbatsch. Survivors include his wife; daughters Jean Marie (Roy) Arends of Alexander and Ann Jeanette (Michael) Burkart of Cincinnati,OH; grandchildren Kelly Lynn (Joe) Pratt of Urbandale, Matthew Lowell Burkart of Chicago, Jill Michelle Burkart of Austin, TX, Andrew Joseph Arends of Las Vegas, and Johnathan Charles Arends of Kansas City; great grandson Nicholas Lowell Pratt of Urbandale; sister Pearl Urbatsch; nephew Harley Urbatsch II; and niece Sue Urbatsch all of Forest City; and his special fishing buddy George "Andy" Anderson of Nora Springs.

The family requests that memorials be given to those organizations that Bud supported throughout his life such as the: American Red Cross, Salvation Army, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Hospice of North Iowa, or the Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Belmond Independent -- Belmond, Iowa
July 2004