Frederick C. "Corky" Koch

Frederick Clement "Corky" Koch, 82 of Fairway, KS, died Saturday morning, July 28, 2007, at his home.
      Fred was born in Baileyville, KS on March 16, 1925, the son of Frank and Mary Frances Rusche Koch, the 8th of their 10 children. He graduated from Baileyville High School in 1943.
      During World War II, Fred served in the U.S. Navy as an
Electrician's Mate aboard the USS Marathon and the USS Bayfield. After
his discharge, he returned to Baileyville and drove a school bus. He then moved to Baltimore, MD, where his brother Raymond lived, and attended
electronics school. He returned to the Kansas City area and worked from
1951-1954 at Lake City Arsenal. During this time he met his wife, Shirley
Ann Geivett. They were married November 14, 1953 at St. Mary's Church in Independence, MO. She survives of the home.
      Fred worked for Westinghouse Electric Co and then the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission for 10 years in Quality Assurance. In 1967, he moved his family from Raytown, MO to Falls Church, VA, where Fred worked as a Training Plans Officer with the Naval Air Systems Command Headquarters. In his spare time he built decks and attended classes in air conditioning & refrigeration, bricklaying and horticulture.
     Fred retired from the government in 1979, moved to Warrensburg, MO and started a second career buying, selling and refurbishing mobile homes. He also was an early investor in Koch & Co. in Seneca, KS. In 2002, Fred and Shirley moved to Fairway, KS, near their son Kevin and his family, and became a member of St. Agnes Parish.
     In his second retirement he took great pride and pleasure in creating and growing flowers and enjoying the view from his back porch swing.
     Besides his wife Shirley, he is survived by two sons, Fred and his wife Sherrie of Manasass, VA, and Kevin and his wife Teresa of Fairway, KS; three daughters, Kathy Koch of College Park, MD, Gail and her husband Graham McGowan of Centreville, VA, and Janis Renfrow of Fairfax Station, VA; 13 grandchildren, Joe, Cadie, Jackie, Kristen, Heather, Chelsea, Hannah, Nicole, Rex, Andrew, Joy, Grace and Holly; a brother, Frank Koch of Beattie; and many nieces and nephews.
      He was preceded in death by 7 brothers and 1 sister; granddaughter Kaitlynn; daughter-in-law, Theresa Koch; and son-in-law, Drew Renfrow.
      Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 AM on Thursday, August 2, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville, KS. Burial will be in the church cemetery.  A rosary will be prayed at 7 PM Wednesday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. 
      The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please leave a memorial contribution for Sacred Heart Church or the American Heart Association, which can be sent in care of the family.