Tomo Koch

Tomo Koch peacefully passed away in her sleep on Sunday, May 1st, 2022, after a long battle with congestive heart failure/kidney disease. Tomo grew up in Misawa, Aomori, Japan. Before her naturalization citizenship in the US, she worked for the Japanese government. She then met her most loving husband (and father), William (Bill) Koch and later married in March 1958. After traveling the country when Bill was on active duty, she settled in Corpus Christi, raised a family, worked for Levi Strauss, and then retired from Sonja’s International Confections, after some 30 years. Throughout her years, she touched many hearts with her generosity of spirit, charm, and humor. She was a parishioner of St. Pius X, also dedicated to helping others in any way she could, was an avid gardener, who was known for her “Japanese cucumbers.” She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Bill Koch, brothers, Isao Takahashi and Hiromi Takahashi, sister, Masa Kawamura, her father, Rokuske Takahashi, and mother, Matsu Kitamuki. She is survived by her daughter, Cherly Kershaw (Andy) and her two granddaughters, Serena Kershaw and Emi Kershaw, and three sisters and one brother, all of whom reside in Japan, Toshi Orikasa, Tokiko Shiomura, Yoko Fukuyama, and Mitsuhiro Takahashi respectively. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 4th from 6-8:00pm at Cage Mills on Everhart/McArdle, with a future, private interment at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Pius X Catholic Church or the American Red Cross, where Bill retired as a Field Director in 1977. The Koch family would like to thank the staff at Compassus Hospice (especially Bethany Martinez, Silver Charles, Tabitha Warner, Mike Griesman, Charlotte Merritt, Kyle Voss, Jessenia) for caring for Tomo as they would their own. The family will be forever grateful for dear friend and neighbor, Arlene Stapleton, during her darkest hours, and dearest friends, Yoshiko Glass and Shizue Jaske, for bringing the Japanese food she loved.

Tomo is entrusted to Funeraria Del Angel-Everhart, 4901 Everhart Road, Corpus Christi, TX 78411.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CageMillsFuneralDirectors.com for the Koch family.