Gaylan J. Koch Obituary (1941 - 2017)

Gaylan John Koch, 76 years of age, of DeWitt passed away near DeWitt Monday afternoon, December 11, 2017. He was born on September 29, 1941 in Beatrice to Delbert and Lorene (Obering) Koch. Gaylan graduated from Clatonia High School in 1958, and then received an associates degree in construction from the Nebraska Vocational Technical School in Milford. Gaylan and Marilyn Lenners were married on April 21, 1968. He served his country in the Nebraska Air National Guard. He had been a self-employed carpenter for 39 years, and then worked for 10 years for Five Star Contracting before retiring in 2012. He was a member of the St. Paul's Lutheran (Soap Creek) Church, and had been on the church council (serving as chairman and vice chairman) and had been an elder, was a Tri County Legion Baseball Association board member, and a member of the DeWitt Legion Club, and the Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery board. He enjoyed woodworking, and was proud of the things that he had built for the church and for others. Gaylan enjoyed spending time with his family and especially enjoyed attending his grandchildren's activities. Survivors include his wife Marilyn; children Tim Koch and wife Sara of Omaha, Doug Koch and wife Kim, and Tiffany Henn and husband Stephen, all of Lincoln; grandchildren Ashton and Mason Koch, Alex and Drew Koch, Megan and Trevor Brinkman, and Noah Henn; siblings Bruce Koch and wife Liz of rural DeWitt, Loren Koch of rural Weeping Water, Roger Koch and wife Debbie of Flower Mound, TX, and Corlyce Barth and husband Michael of Odessa, TX; and several brother and sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces, cousins and other extended family. Gaylan was preceded in death by his parents Delbert and Lorene (Obering) Koch. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, December 15, 2017 at the St. Paul's Lutheran (Soap Creek) Church, rural DeWitt with Reverend Richard Johnson officiating. Interment will be in the St. Paul Cemetery with military graveside services provided by the DeWitt American Legion and VFW, and the Nebraska Air National Guard. The body will lie in state from 11am - 9:00pm Thursday at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice with the family greeting friends from 6:30-8:00 PM, and at the church one hour before the service on Friday. A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 AM Friday at the church. A memorial has been established to the families' choice with Myron Helmke and Larry Henke in charge. Sign Gaylan's online guest book and view his video tribute when completed at www.ghchapel.com. These services have been entrusted to the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.