Allan "Al" Donald Koch

Allan "Al" Koch, age 72, of Cottonwood, Minnesota, died on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at the Avera Medical Center Granite Falls in Granite Falls, Minnesota. Memorial Services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Marshall, Minnesota. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the service, from 9:00 until the time of services at 11:00 a.m., also at the Hamilton Funeral Home.  Following the service, Military Honors will take place at Hamilton Funeral Home.

Allan Donald Koch was born on February 24, 1951, in Marshall, Minnesota to Eloi and Gloria (Qunell) Koch. He grew up in Marshall and graduated with the class of 1969. He joined the United States Navy in February of 1970 and was stationed in Oahu, Hawaii where he worked in communications. In 1974, he was honorably discharged and returned to Marshall where he met and married Helen Thompson and the couple had two children: Dawn Gladis and Shawn Koch.

Al moved to Colorado and later to New Mexico in 1982 to work for Schwan's sales. In 1985, Al married Eve Rickard and eventually returned to rural Cottonwood, Minnesota. In his free time, he loved fishing in the Yellow Medicine River, hunting, golfing, and was well known as a champion asparagus hunter.

Allan Donald Koch died on Thursday, April 27, 2023, in Granite Falls, Minnesota. He had reached the age of 72 years, 2 months, and 3 days. Blessed be his memory.

Al is survived by his wife, Eve Koch of rural Cottonwood; daughter, Dawn (Jody) Gladis of Marshall; son, Shawn Koch of Marshall; 4 grandchildren, Devean Walters, Quentin Walters, Jocelyn Fruin, Kaya Koch; 1 great-granddaughter, Lucia Ybarra; siblings, Steve (Kathy) Koch of Slayton, Stan (Deb) Koch of Marshall; nephews Steve Koch Jr. (Lori) of Slayton, Spencer (Emily) Koch of Iowa; niece, Kris (Benjy) Villarreal of Nowthen; other relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Eloi Koch and Gloria Vien; stepfather, Dennis Vien; brother, Robert Koch; and daughter, Nicki Rickard.