Elmon L. Koch

Elmon L. Koch, 89, of Tremont, passed away on May 3, 2021, at home. 

He was born in Tremont, IL, on June 1, 1931 to Dan and Mary (Baurer) Koch.  He spent nearly all of his life working on the family farm where he was born, first with his brother Dan and sons, and later with his own sons, Kappy and Chuck, and grandsons.  The farm has been in the family since 1893 and is a registered Centennial Farm.

He attended Antioch School through 8th grade and then graduated from Tremont High School in 1949.  He served as a medic in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955.  In 1958, he took over ownership of the family farm with his brother Dan.  He spent his life building the family dairy from 20 to over 275 milking cows.  He came to the farm every day he physically could until the very end.  The dairy remains a top performing farm today.

He married Janice Bolliger from Tremont on March 18, 1956.  God blessed them with 5 children, 17 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren.

He put his faith in Jesus as a young man and was an active member of the Apostolic Christian Church in Tremont all his life.  He enjoyed serving on the Tremont Historical Society Board.  His hobbies included collecting marbles and dairy-related antiques.  His family will especially miss his kind heart, his sense of humor, and hearing performances of I’m an Old Cowhand and Darling Nelly Gray.

Surviving are his wife, Janice; five children: Paula (Marv) Wagenbach, Kappy (Gayle) Koch, Chuck (Cathy) Koch and Luci Koch all residing in Tremont and Marie (Andy) Williams of Carmel, IN; seventeen grandchildren: (Paula) Lucy Kaiser, Megan Fehr, Nathan and Bethany Wagenbach, (Kappy) Ryan, Sean, and Brody Koch, (Chuck) Lori, Heidi, Elsie Stoller, Angie Schick, and Andrew Koch, (Marie) Hannah, Rose, and Gabe Williams, and (Luci) A’laya and Robert Koch; and three great grandchildren.  He is also survived by one brother, Dan (Carol) Koch of Morton, IL and one sister Carolyn Bolliger of Tremont.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Vi Koch and Miriam Frank, and eight brothers: Ralph, Dave, Cleo, Gene, Jesse, Vernon, Gerald and Jim Koch.

His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 6, at the Apostolic Christian Church in Tremont. Church ministers will officiate. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Davis-Oswald Funeral Home in Tremont and from 9 to 9:45 a.m., prior to the funeral service at the church. Burial will be at the Apostolic Christian Cemetery in Tremont.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Gateway Woods in Leo, IN or the Midwest Food Bank in Normal, IL.  To express condolences online, visit www.davisoswaldfh.com.

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