Jeanne Marie Koch, 79, passed away August 26, 2026, at Windsor Reflections in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. She was born on November 7, 1946, in Fort Wayne, IN, the daughter of the late Leonard Sylvester and Aleta Rose Gerardot.
She graduated from Monroeville High School, Monroeville, IN, and earned her bachelor’s from St. Francis University and master’s in education from Indiana University.
Jeanne was a teacher at Fort Wayne Community Schools and taught at Holland Elementary during her early career. She became a mother and raised her children through their impressionable school days. She ended her career in 2011 at Parkview Hospital in the medical records department after 15 years of service.
She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer (Daniel Beeman) Haughey of Bradenton, FL; son, Jason (Jen) Mears of Orange, OH; stepchildren, Todd (Natalie) Koch of West Harrison OH; Pamela (Gary) Brown of Ayersville OH; Timothy (Eunice) Koch of Fort Wayne, IN; siblings, Lois (Neil) Ternet of Monroeville, IN; Joyce (Steve) Seward of Fort Wayne, IN; Jill (Darryl) Averyhart, of Columbia, SC; Mary E. Gerardot , Jane (Dave) Ward both of Fort Wayne, IN; Lisa (Rob) Selfranek of Montgomery, IL; Mark (Amy) Gerardot, CA; Barry (Jane) Gerardot, Leo, IN, six grandchildren and 5 step-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Earl Mears, in 1987 and her second husband, Ronald Koch, in 2011, as well as siblings Nora L. Orr and Ernest E. Gerardot.
Funeral service will be at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at Trinity English Lutheran Church, Krauss Chapel, 450 W. Washington Boulevard, Fort Wayne IN, with visitation one hour prior. Visitation also from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at D.O. McComb and Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home, 1140 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Committal and burial at Lindenwood Cemetery.
