Michael S. Koch

Michael Silas Koch was born in Pekin, Illinois on March 21, 1949. He spent his childhood growing up in Tremont, Illinois with his parents Lester Donald Koch and Barbara Pflederer Koch and his sister Joyce.

As a boy growing up Mike had a regular paper route delivering the local news via his bike. However when inclement weather occurred, his mother, Barbara would assist with a warm car and a stop at the local doughnut shop afterward.

At the age of 14 the Peoria Journal Star named him a Spelling Bee School Champ.

During his high school years at Tremont Community High School Mike could be found practicing the tuba. He graduated in 1967.

He attended the University of Illinois and was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, graduating in 1971 with a Bachelors Degree in the Teaching of Social Studies. Later he earned a Masters in Finance from Loyola University.

He never entered the teaching field but put the finance degree to good use when he began his career in mortgage banking at the Chicago regional office of FNMA where he met Fran.

They were married at Tremont United Methodist Church on July 26, 1975, which was the church Michael attended in his youth.

Although many years were spent living in Illinois, he most enjoyed and appreciated the Colorado climate. He was an avid reader, opera buff, bestowing his love of music on his daughter, and armchair football enthusiast−a toss up between the Broncos and Chicago Bears. But most of all he enjoyed his family and the recent marriage of his daughter, Amy.

He is survived by his wife Francine; daughter Amy (Andrew) Schmidt; sister, Joyce (Gerald) Madsen; nieces Julie Madsen, Jane (Pete) Kourim, and Jill (Calin) Marchis; and grand nephews and niece Leo Kourim and Jerry and Margo Marchis.