| Date of Birth | March 24, 1927 |
| Passed Away | December 16, 2013 |
| Place of Residence | Rochester/Hornell |
| Home State | NY |
| Service Date | December 21, 2013 |
| Service Time | 11 a.m. |
| Service Location | St. Ann's Church, Hornell |
| Interment Location | St. Mary's Cemetery, Town of Fremont |
THOMAS P. KOCH
ROCHESTER/HORNELL-Thomas P. Koch, 86, of Rochester, formerly of Adsit St., Hornell, passed away Monday evening (Dec. 16, 2013) at Highland Hospital in Rochester.
Born in Hornell on March 24, 1927, he was a son of the late Paul and Irene Fox Koch. On Aug. 28, 1950 he was married at St. Mary’s Church in Bath to the former Joanne McDonnell, who survives.
A resident of Hornell for most of his life, Tom and Joanne have resided in Rochester for the past two and a half years.
He was a graduate of Hornell High School and proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a recipient of the American Theatre Medal and the Victory Medal.
Tom was employed for 20 years as an instructor at the Steuben-Allegany BOCES in Hornell, retiring in 1992.
A member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, he was a communicant of St. Ann’s Church in Hornell and was also a Fourth Degree Member of the Hornell Council No. 243, Knight of Columbus, a member of the Maple City Lions Club and Twin Hickory Golf Club.
His loving family includes his wife of 63 years, Joanne; his daughter, Mary Koch Helmer (Charles Zhao) of Rochester; his three grandchildren, Elizabeth Helmer McIntosh (Richard) of Corning, Thomas Helmer (Julie) of Eugene, Ore. and Kathleen Helmer Baxter (Charles) of Portland, Ore; his two great grandchildren, Connor and Christopher McIntosh; his sister, Carolyn Koch Hutton (Michael) of Rochester; his sister-in-law, Margaret Koch of Canisteo; also several nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his son-in-law, Gerald Helmer; his sister Dolores Koch Morey (Thomas) and his brother, Kenneth “Bud” Koch.
There will be no calling hours. Friends are invited to meet his family at St. Ann’s Church in Hornell where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in his memory at 11 a.m. Saturday. Interment will be held at the convenience of the family at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Fremont.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in his memory to Steuben County Rural Ministry, P.O. Box 61, Canisteo, N.Y. 14823. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the church.
Arrangements are with the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell.
Joanne- my condolences at the loss of Tom. We had a lot of good laughs at the Coachlight in the good old days. I now live in TN with Cheryl. I am sad for you.
Mrs Koch, Mary and family. So sorry to hear of Tom’s passing. I always enjoyed visiting with him and you Joanne. What a nice man…all the great memories will keep him with you always. Take care!
Mary, my sincere condolences to you and your mom. In my Hornell years, your parents were as much a staple as Campfire Girls, Thursday evening shopping and HHS football games. Long after I left Hornell, I’d run into them – always together – in Wegmans or out to eat. Pretty sure the last time I saw them was at Cartwrights in Almond when Dave and Denny, Martha and I were taking my mom out at Christmas time. (It’s been a while.) I’ll never forget you and your family, and all thoughts are good ones. There must be many, many, more who could say the same even if they don’t find their way to this site. My all your memories be good ones, and your family be comforted by the love of friends.
Dear Joanne,
Tony & I now live full time in FL after 16 years on Oneida Lake near Syracuse.
My sympathy goes out to you & Mary & your family. Tony knew Tom from McIntosh days & he took a small engines class from Tom @ BOCES.
I dreamed last night that you had a Caldecott & Nerbery book ready for me @ Bryant school!!!
We have five grandchildren from Philadelphia to Northern VT. God Bless