Our gentle
giant, Bruce Henry Koch, went to meet his Lord and Saviour on January 15, 2010
at 10:00am at the age of 61. Come along with me while I try and weave a story
of one of the most amazing men to have ever lived and loved here on
earth.


On
September 8, 1948 Bruce Henry Koch was born to Henry and Dorothy (Knobloch)
Koch in Oshkosh. His twin sister and
best friend Sue (Lee) Lewins-Bouillion was born on the next
day, September 9. Even from the
beginning his story was amazing. Their parents' contribution to the
person Bruce became was, the constant positive reinforcement they
provided in everything the twins did and said; combined with a solid set
of values. The twins grew up knowing that Dorothy and Henry were their
biggest fans, and that's priceless. There
is not a more important job then a parent giving their children a
firm foundation.


Bruce's
3 pound frame grew and grew until he reached 6'5" - keeping him in
shoes was the hardest job of his parents - there are not many people who wear
size 20 shoes and he filled them with love and care for everyone he met. He
learned to love the game of golf from his dad and while he
became pretty good at playing, but he found his greatest joy in teaching others
the game. After graduating from Oshkosh High in 1966, Bruce had many jobs where
he gave 110%, always finding a way to go the extra mile in whatever he did. He
was employed by M&I Bank in the early years and then his dream job came
along working as a Corporal for the Winnebago County Sheriff Department in the
jail. There he made many friends, even
with the inmates, giving them constant encouragement. During those years he
also started his own business, Koch's Kountry Kleaning, hiring some of the
inmates to give them their second chance. It was during these years that he met
a man who would become one of his best friends, Perry Pershing. It was Perry
that would introduce Bruce to His Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, which became
the turning point in Bruce's life. In September 1984 Bruce asked the Lord Jesus
to become his personal Saviour.


In
October 1984 Bruce joined Wyldewood Baptist Church. When Bruce could no longer
work at his paying job, he devoted his time to working in the church print shop,
making bibles to send all over the world while hanging out with his friends:
Jim Hoffman, Tim Carpenter, Pastor Randy King and countless more. Wyldewood was
also where he spotted a young lady, becoming a true believer in love at
first sight. How do I know? Well, I
was that fortunate young lady and the minute I saw Bruce, I knew I was going to
marry him. What I did not know is that it would occur only 5 Months after we
started dating. I became Mrs. Vicki
(Wulff) Koch on April 6, 1985. There has
not been one day that Bruce and his giant heart did not make me feel like a
Queen. I have been blessed. I always told him he should have given classes
on how to be a great husband.


Through
Bruce, I came to know a wonderful little family, his favorite niece and
best buddy, Lisa (Lewins) Kellogg and Sean Krueger, and their children:
Kevin Kellogg, Khali Kellogg and "Little Guy" Sean Krueger. Bruce
was a wonderful son-in-law to my mom, Barbara (Hunter) Wulff and my late dad,
Phillip Wulff. He was a caring family
member to my sister, Janet (Mel) Anklam and her children: Marlena and Samson;
also my sister, Brenda Hanford-Mitchell and her children: Chelsea, with Chelsea's 3
boys: Phillip, Aydin and Drayke, and Mandea with her two little girls Scarlet
and Mary. Bruce and I were unable to have children, but you would have never
known it. We were able and blessed to be
taken in and loved by what we call our kids, Chris and Kay Shea and their 5
wonderful children Alex, Aly, Ashley, Brady and Belle. Bruce loved all the
little children and would tease them and give them rides in his wheel chair
when they were small. Bruce was blessed to be godfather to Beth (Eddie) Cortez
and to spoil her just a little bit. Bruce loved and was loved by countless
numbers of cousins, aunts, and uncles; so many this story cannot hold them all.
Many of whom he is rejoicing with today in heaven.


Yes,
Bruce was in a wheel chair, he became disabled one month before our wedding day
and would battle many health issues. Through
the years he was told many times, "This time you will not make it Bruce. We're sorry." Those words never affected
Bruce. We would just pray and ask for a
Miracle, and the Lord would answer. To
the surprise of everyone Bruce would make it through. Even when he needed to
have both his legs taken and they told him he would need to go into a nursing
home - he said, "No, I'll be fine" and he was. He was a brave and
strong man and taught himself to get around all on his own. Self-pity never crossed his mind. He got to
be great friends with the Oshkosh Cabulance Company, many of the drivers and
dispatcher became a blessing to him; among them and not limited to, Danny K.
They would take him to his many doctor visits and emergency runs to Mercy
Hospital where he made friends with the doctors and nurses, Dr. Curtis Radford
being one of many. The Cabulance was also his ride to his "Morning Coffee
Club" at Hardees where he loved to share in the uplifting spirit of the
friends he made there. You know who you are and he loved you all. They would
also transport him to the Roxy where Bruce took me on dates all the time. I truly
believed he chose the Roxy because he loved the servers and Wolfie. (Thank you
for always getting him his favorite Baby Walleye) And last but not least they
would take Bruce for his visits to Gauthier Chiropractic, where Dr. Tom would
keep him comfortable is his wheel chair. Tom and Melanie became dear
friends of Bruce.


This
life was lived to the fullest, he filled everyday doing things right, good, and
pleasing to his Saviour and if he was here today he would tell you that the
most important thing to know is that Jesus has already paid for all your sins
and that if you will take the time to read the bible and learn that the
shed blood of Christ is the only way to eternal life. Bruce would like you to
look up this website to find out so you can meet him one day: http://www.libertymbc.net/roman_road/ he
would also like you to know the doors are always open at Wyldewood Baptist
Church and open every Sunday where you can come and meet many of Bruce's
precious friends, Wally, Bonnie, Steve, Deb, the Kings, Macy and Jeff, Blanche,
Rosie, Deb, Dick, Pat, John, Karen, Dale, Cindy, Ron and Karla, Fawn, Tammy,
Robert, Jim, Paula and many, many more and me, his wife.


Bruce will have a home going Service at 11:30 A.M. on January 23,
2010, at Wyldewood Baptist Church, 3030 Witzel Ave. all are welcome. Visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M. until
11:30 A.M. There will be a lunch to follow. Interment will be in Lake View
Memorial Park.