John V. Koch, 82, of Baileyville, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2021, at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, surrounded by his family.

John was born on December 28, 1938, on a farm north of Baileyville, the son of Vincent P. and Helen B. Hulsing Koch. He attended Baileyville school and graduated from the 8th grade; later in life he obtained his GED, an accomplishment for which he was very proud of achieving.  

John married Marilyn Kay Lackey on October 5, 1963, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Seneca; the couple celebrated 57 years of marriage.

John worked for Gockel Produce, on the egg route, for 14 years.  He was employed for 31 years at the Nemaha County COOP in the refined fuel department as the manager; but he also enjoyed   hauling. After he retired, he worked part time in the spring and the fall hauling for the COOP.

John was a very warm and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great-grandfather.

Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by a son, Bradley Koch on March 10, 1985; as well as by a sister and a brother.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn of Baileyville; a son, Keith (Jill) Koch of Topeka; a daughter, Amy (Jeff) Holthaus of Berryton; six grandchildren, Brady (Sara) Koch, Emily (Utah) Findley, McKinsey Holthaus, Abbey Koch, Reid Holthaus and Haley Koch; three great-grandchildren, Lillyan Koch, Brecken Findley and Norah Koch; five brothers, Ralph, Leroy, Carl and Roger, all of Axtell and Michael of Lindsborg, KS; and seven sisters, Verita Schmitz of Seneca, Mary Kramer of Grand Junction, CO, Edna Lackey, Alice Porting and JoAnn Porting, all of Axtell, Barbara Korte of Goff, KS and Sharon Skalla of Beattie.

A rosary will be prayed at 10:30 A.M., prior to the 11:00 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, January 28, 2021, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville.

Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, next to his son, Bradley.

Memorials are to be designated at a later date.

To express your sympathy and for more information visit www.lauerfuneralhome.com .