Kenneth “Ken” Koch

Kenneth “Ken” Koch

Marion

Kenneth “Ken” Koch, 78, of Marion, Iowa, was welcomed into the arms of the Lord on Monday, June 19, 2023, due to a sudden, aggressive advancement of cancer.

Ken was welcomed into this world on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, 1944, in Davenport, Iowa, the son of Rev. Julius Edward and Alice Louise (Rixe) Koch. After four years in Bennett, Iowa, the family moved to Atkins, Iowa, in 1948 when his father accepted a call at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church. He graduated from Concordia High School in St. Paul, Minn., and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree at Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Ind. He later earned his master’s degree in English from Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. On Oct. 14, 1967, Ken was united in marriage to Maridith Ann Cockman at Berea Temple Assemblies of God Church in St. Louis. Ken and Maridith moved to Hicksville, New York where he taught English at Long Island Lutheran Junior/Senior High School in Brookville, N.Y. In 1976, Ken and his family relocated to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he discovered his passion for real estate. In 1986, he started Koch & Company Realtors, whose signature white and blue-bordered “For Sale” signs soon appeared in front lawns across the Cedar Rapids area. If you bought a house in or around town, it’s likely you met Ken at an open house and made an instant friend. Ken never officially retired from real estate.

Throughout his life, Ken had an adventurous side. He enjoyed Canadian fishing trips and had a remarkable high school and college baseball career, pitching a no-hitter in high school. He was known for his stained glass works, creating elaborate and colorful lampshades that adorn the homes of family and friends. Ken and Maridith were likely to either be traveling or planning their next trip. Their treks took them across the country and world, antiquing or finding oriental rugs at any opportunity. They both were enthusiastic members of the Music Box Society and traveled to conventions throughout the country.

Ken was an active member of his community and church. He served as a member of the Cedar Rapids Optimist club, Questers and various book and bridge groups. His dedication to his profession included being a member of the National Association of Realtors and serving as president of the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors. Above all, and most important to Ken, was faith in the Lord and devotion to Christ. He was an elder at Bethany Lutheran and lead home Bible studies at St. Mark’s Lutheran.

Ken is survived and lovingly remembered by his three children, Geoff of Nashville, Tenn., Jason (Olya) and three grandchildren, Jacob, Jonathan, and Justin of Clarksburg, Md., and Joshua of Boulder, Colo.; two sisters, Susan (Jim) Brown of Pekin, Ill., and Gloria (Warren) Bengtson of Minneapolis, Minn.; and one niece, Jennifer Larson of Minneapolis.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Maridith, in 2022; and by his parents.

Ken will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 28, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service located at 3855 Katz Dr., Marion, Iowa. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 29, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church located at 8300 C Ave., Marion. Interment will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Cedar Memorial Park located at 4200 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Please share a memory of Ken at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.