John Koch III Obituary
John Koch III, 78, of Saint Joseph Township, Michigan, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, August 27, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. A celebration of John’s life will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Bethel Apostolic Tabernacle, 945 Chippewa Street, Buchanan, with a time of visitation for family and friends an hour prior, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Those wishing to leave a message of comfort or sign John’s online Memory Book may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Memorial contributions in John's honor may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate.
Born on September 28, 1947, in Benton Harbor, John carried a deep love for his hometown throughout his life. A standout athlete at Benton Harbor High School, he proudly helped lead his basketball team to a state championship victory in 1965. He spent his career installing flooring for a living. Above all else, John’s world revolved around his family. He was married to his late wife, Rosalie Koch, for 26 years. Nothing brought him more joy than being present for his children and grandchildren—cheering from the sidelines at every game he could make. When he wasn't supporting his family's pursuits, you could find him out on the golf course or passionately rooting for his favorite teams, the Chicago Cubs and the Michigan State Spartans. John lived his life with an open heart. He was a profoundly kind, loving person, and his family will miss his presence every single day.
John is survived by his children: Kimberly Koch (Rory Sells), John Koch IV (Stacie), Bryan Koch (Zhanna Lipkin), Dana Gray (Jerry Bayse), Carla Gray Weiser (Allen), Chuck Gray (Jill), and Tonya Venezia. He leaves behind a rich heritage in his beloved grandchildren: Paige Schuman (Chris), Bowen Paxson (Sarah), Alexa Wright (Brandon), Haley Yow, Elijah Gray (Sydney), Luciano Hill, Justin Koch, Isaiah Gray (Azalea), Nathan Koch, and Hudson and Graham Koch; as well as his treasured great-grandchildren: Landon and Jackson Ward, and Madison and Hayden Wright, Sadi, Sawyer and Patton Gray. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rosalie Koch; his brother, Chris Koch; his parents, John Jr. and Dorothy Koch; and his grandson, Zechariah Gray.
