Robert Koch
URBANA – Robert "Bob" Emil Koch, 70, of Urbana passed away at 8:30 a.m. Monday (July 10, 2017) at Clark-Lindsey in Urbana.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 14, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 313 S. Prospect Ave., Champaign. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery, Champaign.
Robert was born on Dec. 11, 1946, in Alton. He graduated from Alton High School in 1964 and went on to receive his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University. He then attended the University of Illinois, where he received his master's and Ph.D. degrees in educational psychology. He worked in Urbana School District 116 for over 30 years.
His passion for education and commitment to students prompted him to participate in the C-U One-to-One mentoring program with District 116. Bob was also an active member of his church, Grace Lutheran Church in Champaign. There he served on the Food Pantry Board and Finance Committee, and as lector and council secretary.
His other interests included travel, roller coasters, the television program "Jeopardy" and the St. Louis Cardinals. Bob was always looking forward to warm weather and his next trip.
Robert was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Jean.
He is survived by his brother, George (Ellie) Koch; his daughter, Ann (Jason) Walker; and his son, Steven (Karen) Koch; along with four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church.
Morgan Memorial Home, Savoy, is handling arrangements (www.morganmemorialhome.com).
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Maridell Fox (Unger Brown)
Great memories and even greater friends! I remember the halloween party at Bobby's house when he blind folded us and made us go through a room with scarey stuff in it - namely the pickles covered with chunky peanut butter that were hanging down and when we touched them they felt like poop. we had fun together and did crazy things, but they were not evil or destructive - just wierd. I still have dreams about Trinity - that staircase going down to the kitchen with the landing with the bathrooms. I tell people that we had a pool table in the church basement and they don't believe me - maybe because I'm so bad at pool.
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| 07/14/17 11:24 AM |
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Richard P. Stilwell
Thanks D-Ann for those extra Trinity memories. I remember one VW trip up the river road while it was still under construction when someone was standing up in the passenger seat through the sunroof. I also remember those two empty houses we used to explore after we climbed the bluff at Elsah. I'm sure we never gave a thought to the ethics or dangers of what we were doing. Of course, if we had ever found out that our own kids had done the same things, we would have been furious. My most enduring memory of Walther League is the night of February 8, 1964 when Maridell convinced [or coerced] Pastor Baerwald to ajourn our meeting to the parsonage so we could watch the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. A special image is locked into my mind of her sitting on the floor screaming at the tv [at a somewhat controlled volume, of course]. Weren't we all blessed to grow up in Alton in the 1960's?
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| 07/13/17 11:56 AM |
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D-Ann Kimbro
Bob (or as we would call him Bobby) was a kind soul. Like Richard said, we had many great times at Trinity. Sunday night Wather League, paying pool in the church basement. Going to Marquette park on Sundays in Daryll Amslcher's VW. Prayers to his family.
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| 07/13/17 10:38 AM |
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Richard P. Stilwell
Bob Koch was just a fine guy and a good Christian man . He and I go way back to when we, D-ann Kimbro, Maridell Fox and Wayne Austene were 5-year olds in Sunday school at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alton, and all through West Junior and high school. In addition, he had, probably, the best sense of humor of anyone I have ever known. You're already being missed Bob.
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Barbara Ellen Young (Singer)
oh Bob you are remembered. You were a neighbor and great friend of my former husband, Jerry Erb. He told me lots of stories of you guys in the neighborhood. Bob, you and I and Jerry go back to kindergarten together in Midtown Jerry and I were already married when we attended your wedding in farm country out west (was it Omaha?) I will never forget your future mother-in-law pulling meal after meal from her giant freezer chest Awesome food and fun . As I recall we had to work very hard to corner you and Jean, while leaving the church, because you had refused to let us decorate your car Well, Jerry as groomsman was having none of your protests Thanks for the memories. Barbara Young Erb Singer