The soul of Ruth Ann Koch, 82, went to Heaven from her rural Jefferson home on Friday, June 27, 2025, by the grace of God.

She was born on December 26, 1942, in Wauseon, OH, to Orrin and Belva (Kutzley) Beuhrer.  She graduated from Chesterfield High School in 1960 and received an Ohio FHA degree.  She worked as a beautician until late 1965.  After a short courtship, she married Duane Koch on December 5, 1964, at Martin Luther Chapel in East Lansing, MI. She then became a wonderful housewife and mother, chasing kids, cows, pigs, working on canning projects, gardening, and butchering chickens.  She was also involved in many sewing projects and served as an adult 4H volunteer for many years.  She was a long-time and active member of St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church and will be dearly missed.

She is survived by: her husband Duane Koch of Jefferson; children Dawn Koch of Jefferson, Tim (Rebecca) Koch of Oconomowoc, Brian (Valerie) Koch of Manitowoc, and Mike (Jill) Koch of Cottage Grove; grandchildren Stephanie (Luke), Zachary (Rachel), Kelly, Julie, Isabella, and Jameson; step-grandchildren Bobbi (Nathan), Hunter (Isabel), Mikayla, and Averie; great-grandchildren Leo and Stella; step-great-grandchildren Thomas (Natalya), Tiffiany, and Liam; step-great, great-grandchildren Rylie and Emma; and her sister Joyce Buehrer of Lansing, MI.  Ruth is also survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, daughter Amy Koch, sister Barbara Freier, grandson Damontray, and nephew Christopher Freier.  Ruth is also preceded by other family members.

Suggested memorials are St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church, Operation Smile, or the Sarcoma Foundation - as a memory of Amy.

The family would like to thank all the healthcare professionals that cared for Ruth Ann, especially most recently Rainbow Hospice.

A memorial service will be at 12:00PM on Friday, July 11, 2025, at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church of Jefferson with Rev. Mark Bartsch presiding.  Visitation will be on Thursday from 5:00PM – 7:00PM at the Olsen-Gibson Funeral Home and on Friday from 11:00AM until the time of service at the church.  She will be buried at Christberg Cemetery following the memorial service.