Donald William Koch

Donald William Koch, 90, of Hampton, Iowa, formerly of Latimer, Iowa, passed away Saturday, April 6, 2013, at the Franklin General Hospital in Hampton, Iowa. Don was born, the son of Amos and Lydia (Dalkert) Koch, on a farm south of Grimes, Iowa, on November 22, 1922. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grimes, Iowa. Don graduated from high school in Grimes in 1941. In the same year, he was awarded the outstanding 4-H member in Polk County and won a National Swine Breeder award in Noblesville, Indiana. In 1942, Don came to Hampton and served as herdsman for Robin Lane Farms. Since he lived close to the Marion Center Church, he milked the pastor's cow and gathered the eggs when Pastor Wintermeyer was busy or away from home at chore time. Don and Lorena (Plagge) were married on November 10, 1946, at the Marion Center Immanuel Evangelical Church by Rev. Wintermeyer. He was a Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent and a youth counselor. Don also served on the church board, was a church elder and held many other offices. Don and Lorena farmed northwest of Latimer, where they raised their four sons. He served on the Alexander and CAL school board for thirteen years. They raised registered Landrace hogs and registered Charolais cattle. They showed cattle in shows all over the states from Texas to Calgary, Canada, where they won the World Charolais show in 1964. In 1969, they sold the entire herd and acquired the Latimer State Bank, where he served as President until 1988, when he retired. Don did a lot of different things in his lifetime. His motto was, "If a man can do it, I can do it." Don was an active member of the community and a leader of many local and state organizations. He enjoyed helping people accomplish something, always looking ahead and never looking back. Don's hobby was woodcarving and woodworking. After he retired, he was a crop specialist with Iowa State University and worked at Beed's Lake State Park. Don and Lorena spent eighteen years wintering in Texas, where they worked with the Nomads, a church mission organization that worked in churches and with Habitat for Humanity building homes. They also spent hours working in Mexico, helping unfortunate people find a better way of life. Don never wasted time; if something needed done, he did it. He always said, "I have done a lot of things without pay, but I have never done anything for nothing." Don is survived by his wife Lorena Koch of Hampton, son Alan (Cathy) Koch of Johnston and their children Nocona (Randy) Dayton of Johnston and step-children Bailey and Justin, and Cody (Julie) Koch of Seattle, Washington and children Adelyn and Kaden, son Garland (Teresa) Koch of Dove Canyon, California and their son Alexander of Dove Canyon, California and step-children Dale and Chris Frink, son Sherwin (Aileen) Koch of Solon, Iowa and their children Stephanie, Alexis and Carter, son Brent (Heidi) Koch of Waukee and their children Nicole, Blake, Tatum and Piper, sisters-in-law Martina Koch of Manhattan, Kansas, Alpharetta Koch of Grimes and Helen Koch of Oswego, Illinois, along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Amos and Lydia, brothers Berl, Robert, Howard, Leland and infant brother, granddaughter Lacey Koch and brothers and sisters-in-law LaVern, Herbert, Wayne and Margaret. Burial will take place in the Marion Center Cemetery in rural Latimer, Iowa.

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Donald William Koch

November 22, 1922 - April 6, 2013