Jerry Koch

Gerald David Koch, 76, of Eldorado, died Tuesday, August 11, 2015, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah, Iowa.

 Memorial Services will be held on Wednesday, August 19, at 10:00 am, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Eldorado with visitation one hour before the service at the church.

Gerald David Koch was born on August 9, 1939, at the Winneshiek County Hospital in Decorah, Iowa. He was the son of John and Elsie (Rothmeyer) Koch.

He was baptized at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Eldorado, Iowa, on August 29, 1939. Jerry confirmed his faith on March 29, 1953, also at St. Peter, where he was a lifelong member.

Jerry graduated from West Union High School in 1957. While in school he played football and wrestled.

On December 10, 1960, Jerry was united in marriage with Shirley Weidemann at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawkeye, Iowa. To this union two children were born, Jeffrey David and Jill Lynette.

Jerry worked for farmers around Eldorado starting at age 10. Beginning in high school, he hauled milk in cans and later in bulk to West Union and Decorah creameries for twenty years. He erected grain bins in the area and then worked for the West Union Co-op as an Agronomist for twenty-one years, retiring in 1999.  Jerry then owned Kochie’s Steakhouse in Auburn, Iowa, from 1999 to 2009.

On November 7, 2012, Jerry was united in marriage with Anne Nelson in Iowa City, Iowa.

Jerry enjoyed fishing, hunting for deer and mushrooms, dancing and woodworking. He also enjoyed visiting with family and friends.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Anne Nelson-Koch, his son Jeffrey (Betty) Koch of rural Ossian, Iowa; a sister, Elaine “Peppy” Mitchell of Kittridge, Colorado.

He is further survived by his step-children, Laurel (Wayne) Young of Palm Coast, Florida, Matthew (Lisa) Nelson of Urbandale, Iowa, Susanne (Chris) Service of Sparta, Wisconsin, and Josiah (Sarah) Service of Maryland. 

Jerry is also survived by his granddaughter, Jessica Koch, of Indianola, Iowa, and step-grandchildren, Christopher Young, Elizabeth Young, Carianna Young, Emmalee Young and Michael Nelson, many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews and cousins. 

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley, on May 28, 1994, and his daughter, Jill Koch, on April 30, 2001.

Also preceding him in death are his parents, John and Elsie, his brothers: Herb, Ralph, Richard and John, Jr., his sisters, Marilyn Bryant, Violet Sutter and Margaret Mae Martin.         33u33