Richard Louis Koch

Richard L. Koch, 100, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2021. He was born in Bay City, Michigan to Louise (Williams) and Louis H. Koch Jr. Richard attended Bay City Central High School, graduating in 1939. He joined the Army in 1942 and served in Hawaii and on Iwo Jima during WWII. Following the war Richard attended the University of Michigan, graduating in 1948. While there he met his wife, Elinore Shanks of Bowling Green, OH, whom he married in 1948. They would be married 68 years, until she passed away in 2017.

Richard worked for Aetna Life Insurance and Kresge before joining the Corrections Department of the State of Michigan in 1958 where he worked as a probation and parole officer in Flint, Gladwin, Roscommon and Midland, until his retirement in 1988. Active throughout his life, Richard drove for Meals on Wheels, and belonged to the Michigan State Employees Association, Rotary International, Civitan, numerous square dancing groups, and American Legion Post 18. Throughout his life he enjoyed camping, fishing, national and international travel, square dancing, crossword puzzles, opera and his family.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, son Louis, brother Robert, sisters Virginia and Judith. Left to cherish his memory are daughters Carol (Richard) Engelsman of Mesa, AZ, and Nancy (William) Dynes, of Indianapolis, IN, son Ronald (Bernal) Koch of Temperance, MI, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A graveside memorial and interment of ashes will be held in Bay City, MI at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made to Christ Hospital in Cincinnati or to Salt River Brass in Mesa.