Joan Koch

Joan Koch

Stanwood

Joan Margaret Colvin Koch, 89, of Clarence, Iowa, passed away on April 6, 2024, from complications with cancer.

Joan was born on August 3, 1934, in rural Taylor County, Kentucky, to parents R. Merriett & Margaret A. McDermott Colvin. Her father was a tobacco farmer, blacksmith and sawmill operator. She started school at an early age by tagging along with her brothers as they attended a one-room school where her aunt taught. She then attended Taylor County High School in Campbellsville where she excelled in athletics and graduated in 1950 at the age of 16.

Soon after graduation, she took a job with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington D.C. as a tracer clerk – receiving special consideration due to her age. She was a catcher for the league champion FBI softball team. There she met her future husband who also worked in the Bureau as a clerk supervisor. They were married on April 10, 1953, and soon after moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and eventually to Stanwood in 1957. While raising their four sons, she worked part-time as a secretary at Lincoln High School and as the City Clerk of Stanwood. She retired as Clerk in 1997 after 29 years with the City and later served four years on the City Council. She remained active on many boards and committees. Retirement activities included reading, cooking, sewing, and following her grandkids. In 2013, they moved to Marion, Iowa, but returned to Cedar County in 2021.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers – Bobby, Samuel & Danny. She is survived by her husband Kenneth; sons David (Kathy) Koch of Shawnee, KS, James (Jane) Koch of Stanwood, IA, Kerry (Roxanne) Koch of Robins, IA and Karl (Joan) Koch of Clive, IA; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

A graveside committal service will be conducted by Pastor Watkins of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at 11 am on Saturday, April 13, at the Stanwood cemetery. A luncheon will be provided for family and friends after the service at the Masonic Lodge, 215 E. Broadway Street, Stanwood, IA.

The family asks that no flowers be sent and that any memorials be directed to the Clarence Nursing Home, 402 2nd Avenue, Clarence IA 52216 and be noted “Koch memorial for staff.”