Kenneth Eugene Koch

Kenneth Eugene Koch

Clarence

Kenneth Eugene Koch, 96, of Clarence, IA, passed away on January 4, 2025, at the Clarence Nursing Home.

Ken was born on September 18, 1928, in Stanwood, IA, to parents Edward H. Koch & Bernice M. Graft Koch. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Stanwood. He attended school in Stanwood where he excelled in athletics and graduated in 1946. He worked for Quaker Oats in Cedar Rapids and played basketball for their commercial league team until March 1950 when he moved to Washington D.C. to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a clerk. He later returned to Iowa for induction into active military duty in the Army. After training as a tank commander in Texas, he was shipped to Japan for deployment to Korea but was diverted from the troop pipeline to provide clerical support for the Joint Logistic Command’s replacement and resupply efforts in Sasebo, Japan. He was discharged in December 1952 at the rank of Sergeant (SGT(T)) and returned to his job with the FBI in Washington, DC.

There he met his future wife Joan Margaret Colvin. They were married on April 10, 1954, and soon moved back to Cedar Rapids – and eventually to Stanwood by 1957. He worked for the Illinois Central Railroad as a railyard clerk from 1954 until 1964 when he started work with the Iowa DOT as a weight enforcement officer. He also served part-time as the Marshall for the City of Stanwood from 1955 to 1965. In 1983, he was promoted by the IDOT to Criminal Investigator covering multiple counties in eastern Iowa. He retired in 1990 after 26 years of service. In 2013, Ken and Joan moved to Marion, Iowa, but returned to Cedar County in 2021.

When able, Ken enjoyed watching sports; fishing with his boys; and bingo and casino trips with old friends. Most of all he enjoyed visits from his grandkids.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Joan; brothers James and Robert; and sister Joan. He is survived by 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 nine great-grandchildren.

A private graveside committal service will be held at a later date.

The family greatly appreciates the care and love provided by the staff at the Clarence Nursing Home and asks that any memorials be directed to the Clarence Nursing Home, 402 2nd Avenue, Clarence IA 52216 and be noted “Koch memorial for staff”.