Fred Koch

Fred Koch, age 85, of Willmar, died Monday, March 30, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, April 2, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Willmar. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Frederick "Fred" Eugene Koch was born December 28, 1929, in Morris, Minnesota, the son of Nicholas and Helen (Schreier) Koch.  He was raised in the New London area and attended school until age 14.  Upon leaving school, Fred worked on the family farm.  In the 1950's, he was admitted to the Willmar State Hospital and later the Cambridge State Hospital.  In April 1970, he became a resident of Kindlehope in Willmar.  He later resided at Ella Manley's Foster Care Home and most recently at a Rem South Central Foster Care Home in Willmar.

Fred was employed at West Central Industries in Willmar from 1970 until his retirement  in December 2004.  He also attended Bethesda Adult Day Services for the past several years and participated in Special Olympics Bowling.  Fred enjoyed playing Bingo and board games and was a good story teller.  He also loved the outdoors, especially bird watching and fishing.

He is survived by three brothers, Joseph Koch, Leo (and Dorothy) Koch, and Walter (and Verna) Koch of St. Paul; a sister, Alice MacLennan; several nieces and nephews; and many friends at REM South Central.

He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers, Victor, Julius, Nicholas and Bernard.

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