Funeral services for Lee Koch, age 82, of Winside will be held at Winside High School, on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be at the United Methodist Church in Winside on Friday from 4:00 p.m – 8:00 p.m. with family present. Arrangements are with Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne. Interment with Military Rites will be at Pleasant View Cemetery. He passed away Wednesday at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk. Memorials may be directed to the Winside Youth Wrestling Association and the Winside Auxiliary Club.
Leon Randolph Selders Koch, was born to Grace Lena Selders on June 19, 1935, in Winside. Leon was adopted by Allen Willie Koch in 1942. He attended Winside High School and graduated in 1953 and earned letters in football, basketball, track and baseball. He attended Wayne State College for one year. Leon enlisted in the United States Army on April 15, 1954. Leon married Hatsue “Rosie” Niijima March 23, 1955, at the American Embassy in Tokyo, Japan. They spent 13 years of a 20year career serving in foreign countries including assignments in Japan, Germany, Ethiopia, and to the American Embassies in Rabat, Morocco and Vientiane, Laos. Leon served in an advisory duty role to the Moroccan and Laotian Armies. Leon was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal, and four awards of the Army Commendation Medals. Leon was a 50-year member of the Winside American Legion. His love of sports for the last few years have been watching his grandsons, great-granddaughters and great-grandsons play softball, baseball, and wrestling.
Lee is survived by his sons, Jay (Lisa Randall) Koch of Winside, Tom Koch of Hoskins, Mark (Kim Pletcher) Koch of Butte; nine grandchildren, David (Tania) Koch, Jeff (April) Koch, Jory (Anna) Koch, Shelby Koch (fiancé, Lane Stange), Justin (Laurie) Koch, Jordan Koch, Kalin Koch, and Kirstie Koch; nine great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jim Koch of Norfolk and Earl (Jan Houdek) Koch of Norfolk; nine nieces and nephews, and numerous great nieces and nephews.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Allen and Grace Koch; wife, Rosie in 2005; infant son, Jay Dee in 1959; uncles, Ollan Koch and David Koch; and sister-in-law, Jean Koch (Schaff).
