Alta (Koenig) Koch Zikmund Obituary (1920 - 2015)

Alta (Koenig) Koch Zikmund, passed away in Omaha, Nebraska on October 3, 2015 at the age of 95 years and 25 days. She was born to William and Elizabeth (Germer) Koenig in Plymouth, Nebraska on September 8, 1920 Alta was baptized at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Plymouth on September 26, 1920 and confirmed at St. Paul's on June 10, 1934. She graduated from Plymouth High School with the Class of 1938. She worked as a housekeeper in Lincoln after graduation. Alta then married Ivan Koch at St. Paul's on November 2, 1941. Ivan and Alta made their home 1/4 mile west of Clatonia where they farmed and raised their three sons, Terry, Rodney and Doyle. Alta was an active member of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Clatonia, the Extension Club of Clatonia and the American Legion Auxillary in Plymouth. Following Ivan's death in 1972, Alta entered the workforce, working first at the cafe in Hallam and then in retail at J.M. McDonald in Beatrice. Alta took pride in her work and loved helping others shop for clothes. On January 23, 1982, Alta married Adrian "Zik" Zikmund of Wilber, which is where they made their home until Zik's death in 2006. During their years together, Zik and Alta traveled with friends and family to places such as Thailand, Germany and Czechoslovakia, and boarded many cruises. They visited Alaska and Hawaii and different parts of the continental United States, often times stopping to visit extended family. In later years, they enjoyed senior citizen bus trips to more local attractions. Alta moved to Samaritan Springs in Beatrice in 2006 before relocating to The Parsons House in Omaha in 2012. In addition to her love for travel, Alta enjoyed shopping, gardening, playing cards and playing bingo, but most of all she loved her family and she especially loved cooking for them. She is survived by two sons and their spouses, Terry (Jackie) of Lyons and Doyle (Sharon) of Bennington; daughter-in-law, Corinne Koch of Lincoln; five grandchildren and their spouses, Greg (Leanne), Jill, Jeff (Lesha) and Brent (Courtney) Koch, and Alicia (Matt) Zajicek; six great grandchildren; two sisters, Ila Burger of Plymouth and Helen Poteet of Richmond, MO; stepdaughters, Jan (Bus) Wergin of Estes Park, CO and Judy (Karl) Bauman of Chapel Hill, NC; nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ivan and husband, Zik; her son, Rodney; and two sisters, Lorene Koenig and Vera Carman. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, R. Clatonia with Reverend Steven Kahrs officiating. Interment will be at the church cemetery. The body will lie in state Monday from 11-9:00 PM at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice with the family greeting friends from 6:30-8:00, and at the church one hour preceding the service on Monday. A memorial has been established to the church and for Alzheimer's Research with the funeral home in charge. A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 AM Tuesday at the church. Sign Alta's online guest book and watch her video tribute after completed at www.ghchapel.com. These services have been entrusted to the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.