Obituary of Joseph R. Koch

Joseph R. Koch, 95, of Tucson, Arizona, died January 17, 2023.

He was born March 4, 1927 in Cleveland, Ohio, the third of five children, to Conrad and Katherine Koch.

Joe served in the United States Army in Germany at the end of World War II. During his time there he played saxophone in the Army Band and bought one of the first Volkswagen Beetles manufactured after the war.

He married Florence Weeda on December 2, 1950 in Bellflower, California.

His employment took him to California, Ohio, Vermont, Colorado, and Arizona, where he retired from a long career with IBM in 1989.

He loved music, enjoyed watching sports, playing softball, taking photographs, hiking in Sabino Canyon, and especially loved to travel. He took the family on many adventures with Sunday afternoon drives as well as road trips across the United States in the family station wagon. He and Florence were also able to take several trips abroad.

Joe is survived by his children, Karen (Jim) Latendresse of Tucson, Arizona; Mary Lou (Keith) Sams of Dripping Springs, Texas; Barb (Greg) Newton of Tucson, Arizona; Joe Koch of Willcox, Arizona; grandchildren, Timothy (Kate) Sams of Plattsburgh, New York; Jennifer Sams of Austin, Texas; Shea Newton of Tucson, Arizona; Liam Newton of Tucson, Arizona; and one great-granddaughter, Maggie Sams, of Plattsburgh, New York.

He was preceded in death by his parents; loving wife Florence; brothers Ed Lendl, Alfred Koch; and sisters Katie Fort and Trudy Miller.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, February 4th, 2023 at 1:00 p.m., at St. Pius X Catholic Church, in Tucson, Arizona.

Memorials or donations may be made to: Gospel Rescue Mission of Tucson, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or St. Pius X Catholic Church, Tucson, Arizona