Michael A. Koch

MICHAEL ALLIN KOCH was born on May 25, 1955 to Frank and Joan (Shepard) Koch in Bloomington, Illinois. He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith. Michael was raised in Rantoul, Illinois where he attended school and graduated from RTHS in 1973. Throughout his childhood, Michael’s step-father, Roger White, was a great influence on him. Michael held several jobs during school and after graduation, including his position at Furniture World, before moving on to begin his 12 year career at Rantoul Products. On October 18, 1975, he was united in marriage to Denise Christensen at the American Lutheran Church in Rantoul, where they made their first home. In October of 1995, the couple relocated to Minnesota where Michael began working with Schwan’s Foods and later at the Elevator in Lake Benton, Minnesota. Eventually he found his true passion; working for AgFirst Farmers Cooperative in Aurora, South Dakota as a grain hauler. He embraced his CB radio nickname, “Papa Smurf,” coined for his powder blue semi and beloved beard. He thoroughly enjoyed his career until June of 2018, when his health made retirement necessary. However, Michael would have loved to continue to work and reminded his family of this often. On February 10, 2019, Michael passed away at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 63 years, 8 months, and 16 days.

Michael’s favorite activity was fishing, but he also loved to attend auctions and play pool, euchre, pepper, and “Baringo.” His family will always remember the Sundays and Father’s Days they spent together while he grilled. Michael also enjoyed cooking breakfast for his grandchildren, who were the true lights of his life.

Michael will be remembered by his wife, Denise of Lake Benton; daughters, Michelle (Randy) Pierce and Marsha Jones of Lake Benton, Michael Jo (fiancée, Jordan Oney) Koch of Tyler, Minnesota, and Monique (Kelly) Bahm of Lake Benton; grandchildren, Kash, Dakotha, Sydney, and Damian Pierce, Kenneth and Nichole Jones, Logan Miller, Aiden, Luna, and Anastasia Oney, and Kobe Bahm; great-grandson, Phillip Jones; step-father, Roger White of Rantoul; brothers, Rick (Betty) Koch of Bloomington, Illinois, and Dwayne White of Rantoul; special sister-in-law, Dawn Cook; special aunt, Kathy “Tootsie” Bustle; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joan White and Frank Koch; parents-in-law, Arthur and Nancy Christensen; brother, Ronald Koch; brother-in-law, Ralph Viera; and his grandparents.

Memorials will be directed to various cancer research organizations by the family in honor of Michael.