Paul O. Koch

Paul Owen Koch, age 89, died Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King. Paul was born in Kaukauna on June 11, 1921, son of the late Otto and Agnes (Brill) Koch. He was baptized on June 19, 1921 and was confirmed at Holy Cross Catholic Church where he remained a member his entire life. Paul graduated from Kaukauna High School and from 1942 to 1946 served in the United States Coast Guard. For many years, he worked as a plumber with his brother Jerome, in Koch Plumbing in Kaukauna. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially in Woodruff, playing cribbage, cracking hickory nuts, watching sports on television, especially the Cubs, Brewers, Bears, and Packers. He also loved to visit with his many dear friends. Paul was also a member of the American Legion Post #41.

Paul is survived by many special nieces, nephews, and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, by brothers Jerome (Pat) Koch, Bud (Leah) Koch, and Bob Koch, and by a sister Mary Gossens.

The funeral liturgy for Paul will be held at 4:00 PM on Monday, April 11, 2011 at HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 309 Desnoyer Street in Kaukauna, with Fr. Tom Pomeroy officiating. Full military honors will follow the service. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Monday from 2:00 PM until the time of the service.

The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King and to St. Paul Manor in Kaukauna for all of the love and care given to Paul.

“He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast, and he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past. Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done, in his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one. And though sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke, all his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke. But we'll hear his tales no longer, for old Paul has passed away, and the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today. He will not be mourned by many, just his family and his friends, for he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life. Held a job and helped his family, quietly going down his way, and the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today. If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise, then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days. Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say, “Our country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.”

-by A. Lawrence Vaincourt.

Fargo Funeral Home
400 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Kaukauna, WI 54130
920-766-6200