Kenneth M. Koch, 81, of Seneca, KS, died Sunday, June 11, 2000, shortly after arrival at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital. His death was caused by a series of strokes.

He was born September 23, 1918, at Summerfield, KS, the son of John and Marcella Cook Koch, one of 14 children. He moved with his family to Frankfort, KS, where he attended school. He went to Freeport, TX in 1939 where he was a hoisting engineer for various contractors. In 1965 he became business manager for International Union of Operating Engineers, Local Union #450, in Freeport, TX, for 14 years. In 1979, three days before his planned retirement, he suffered a massive stroke and aneurysm.

He served in the 3rd Armored Division of the U.S. Army in Central Europe as a half-track tank driver from March 1943 to November 1945. He was in the Battle of the Bulge, Normandy, and the Ardennes. He was wounded in action December 18, 1944, and received a Purple Heart.

On March 29, 1941, he was married to Marjorie Zettle of Seneca in Orange, TX. They lived in Freeport and Van Vlick, TX until her death March 17, 1992. He and his wife owned and operated a restaurant-steakhouse “Ken-Mar” on Highway 35 in Freeport. In 1944 he sold all his property and moved to Seneca to live with his wife’s sister, Hazel Hoffman.

He was a member of the Catholic Church at Bay City, TX. He was a member of the Earle W. Taylor Post #21 of the American Legion and the Seneca Memorial Post #7458 of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars, both in Seneca.

Survivors are three sisters, Leona Keiffer of Marysville, KS, Thomasine Cope of Thornton, CO, Kathryn Thomson of Wichita, and his sister-in-law, Hazel Hoffman of the home in Seneca.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 AM Wednesday, June 14, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the Seneca City Cemetery. A prayer service will be held at 7 PM Tuesday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorial contributions may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul School, Seneca, KS 66538.