June Patience Koch

Funeral services for June Koch, age 89, of Milaca, will be held Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 11 AM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Milaca with Rev. David Hahn and Rev. Marvin Blaske officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery in Milaca. Visitation will be from 5 – 8 PM on Monday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Milaca with a prayer service at 7:30 PM. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Music will be provided by Jane Marquardsen. Pallbearers are Grandsons Rex Nelson, Kris Broschofsky, Neil Larsen, Adam Van Donsel, Dusty Van Donsel, Danny Van Donsel and Jon Fogel. Honorary pallbearers are Granddaughters Roxie Van De Water, Suzanne Hove, Tiffany Byers-Draeger, Dionne Haberman, Brandee Kelash, Michelle Meixell, Christine Schlenker and Sara Moorlag. June went to be with her loving Lord Jesus Christ on Friday, August 5, 2011 at Quiet Oaks Hospice in St. Augusta, MN. June Patience Koch was born June 17, 1922 to John S. and Julia (Mihlberger) Swanson in Borgholm Township. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Milaca. She attended Hayland Township District #25 country school through the 8 th grade. She graduated from Milaca High School in 1939. She later graduated from Cables' Secretarial School in St. Paul and worked for Northwest Airlines as a secretary. She married Vernon Koch on May 17, 1944 after his return from the war and they were stationed at several U.S. military bases until his discharge from the Army. In 1947, they started Koch's Hardware in Foreston and in 1975 relocated the store to its current location in Milaca. June and Vern retired from the Hardware business in 1987. June was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, the Ladies Aid and the LWML, taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. She served as a 4H leader and on the Foreston School Board. June will be greatly missed by the love of her life, Vern, her children, grandchildren, family and friends. She was the true matriarch of the family, bringing everyone together for holidays, birthdays and other special occasions. Her life was devoted to her Lord, giving her family and friends a true example of a Christian woman and was very giving of herself to many. She loved reading the Bible, her devotions, many books and magazines. She loved quilting and sewing and had lovingly made a quilt for every daughter, grandchild and 24 of her 30 great-grandchildren, until her health failed and she could no longer sew. She loved picking berries and making jam for her family. One of her cherished family traditions was baking and decorating Christmas cookies with her children and grandchildren. She and Vern enjoyed traveling, meeting people and developing many new friendships along the way. Her greatest joy in life was being surrounded by her family and friends. God was gracious to her family, enabling her in her last days, to share many stories and precious memories. Of the many gifts she shared, was wanting her family to feel the joy and not the sadness as she was going home to be with her Lord and Savior and many of her loved ones. She is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Vern; daughters, Julie (Jerry) Nelson of Aitkin, Joline (Larry) Molstad of St. Cloud, Janet (Roger) Ryan, Jean (Mike) Larsen both of Milaca, Joyce (Chuck) Van Donsel of Foreston and Janelle (Bill) Fogel of Milaca; special nephew, Brent (Barb) Swanson of Hugo; grandchildren, Roxie (Art) Van De Water of River Falls, WI, Rex (Sandy) Nelson of Blaine, Suzanne (Mark) Hove of Circle Pines, Tiffany (Theron) Byers-Draeger of Big Lake, Lindsey (Chris) Molstad of Duluth, Dionne (Mike) Haberman, Kris (Joline) Broschofsky both of Milaca, Brandee (Rob) Kelash of Foley, Denise (Jim) Majerus, Connie Renner, both of Milaca, Steve (Jennifer) Ryan of Isanti, Michelle (Basil) Meixell, Neil (Sarah) Larsen both of Milaca, Adam (Amy) Van Donsel of Foreston, Dusty (Jennifer) Van Donsel of Milaca, Danny Van Donsel of Foreston, Christine (Noah) Schlenker of Milaca, Jon Fogel of Fargo, ND and Sara (Jon) Moorlag of Sartell; 30 great-grandchildren; twin sister, Jeanette (Wes) Phillips of Milaca; sister, Joyce (Dick) Hubbard of Phoenix, AZ; also by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; grandsons, Chad Broschofsky and Jon Molstad; brother, Lester and sisters, Marian Randall and Alice Bynum.