Emeline A. Koch

KOCH, Emeline A., 100, of Clearwater, passed away on August 5, 2019. Known for her bubbly personality, her quick smile and her infectious laughter, Emeline Alger Koch was a loving wife and mother, a devoted sister and aunt, and a wonderful friend. Born 1919 in Leicester, Massachusetts, she grew up in Chicago, Illinois where she shared many fun adventures with her sisters and her friends. She belonged to the first Girl Scout troop in Chicago. While in high school, Emeline met her future husband, Carl, who filled in for a friend as her date for a Cadets’ ball. Emeline graduated from Lakeview High School in 1938. After graduation she worked for Eversharp pen manufacturing company in Chicago in the accounting department. Emeline & Carl were married in 1942 in Chicago. She continued to work until shortly before their first child was born. The young family moved to Hales Corners, WI, where Emeline made many dear friends, was a Cub Scout den mother, and cared for her family. After they moved to Florida in 1956 Emeline was a Girl Scout leader, an altar guild president and wedding coordinator at First Lutheran Church. She and Carl moved to Regency Oaks in 2008 and resided there until his death. They had been married for 72 years when he passed away in 2014. Emeline then resided at Sylvan Assisted Living at Regency Oaks. Emeline was a member of Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Palm Harbor, FL. “Grandmaline” celebrated her 100th birthday in July, 2019 with family and friends. She loved visiting with people, music and dancing, spending time with family, parties, and chocolate. She is survived by her son Jeffrey (Maureen) of Dunedin, Florida; daughter Caroline (James) Yale of Gainesville, FL; granddaughter Elizabeth (Harvey) Kitzman of Austin, TX; Grandson John (Andrea) Koch of Dunedin, FL; granddaughter, Melissa Yale of Portland, OR; and great granddaughters Allison, Katherine and Samantha Koch of Dunedin, FL; and Emily Kitzman of Austin, as well as several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl and her sisters Natalie Hess and Meriba Gursky. Services will be held on Saturday, September 7th, at 11 am in Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 1555 Windmill Pointe Road Palm Harbor, FL 34685. Service will be followed by a luncheon at the church and committal of ashes at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park in Clearwater. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Lutheran Church of the Resurrection Memorial Fund.