Lyle Albert Koch

Lyle Albert Koch, 84, of Sterling, passed away peacefully in the hospital on December 27, 2025, having been with and in the presence of family members expressing their "I love you" messages.

Cremation was chosen as method of burial, and a graveside inurnment service will be held when spring breaks, date and time and cemetery to be announced.

Lyle was born March 21, 1941, to William Koch and Bernice Koch in Hubbard County, near Park Rapids, Minnesota. He said he was born at home in a log cabin, and his birth certificate named him as "baby boy Koch" until his name could be recorded by the doctor 10 days later.

He graduated from Merino High School in 1959, and then entered Electronics School in Denver, Colorado for one year, and worked as a technician until entering the US Navy

October 23, 1962, as an electronics mechanic. After further naval training at Treasure Island, San Francisco, he served on the USS John McCain, a destroyer, as a radar mechanic, with the battle group Enterprise. His group took part in sea engagements in the Vietnam war, namely the Gulf of Tonkin. He loved "being out there" on his ship and he always had a tale to tell about his experiences.

On October 15, 1977, in Sterling, Colorado, he married a woman named "Lila", making them the couple named Lyle and Lila Koch. They were married 48 years. Lila had a son named Daniel whom he later adopted as his son and raised him to maturity. He told Daniel on his last day in hospital ER: "I choose you as a son and you chose me as a dad, everyone else did not always have the choice on who they got." Daniel gave his mom and dad an active role in raising his son, their grandson, "Lyle Anthony Koch" who now is married (Abbey) with two children, named Layne Mary and Baylor Joseph Koch, who will carry on the family name. They live in Ridgefield, Washington state.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, and 7 siblings, Billy, Lee, Kenneth, William Jr., and sisters Ethel Bunner, 'Nita Day, and Harriet Foos. And is survived by one remaining brother, Erwin Koch of Loveland, Colorado, and bunches of nieces and nephews from both sides of his marriage. His wife Lila, son Daniel, and grandson Lyle, and afore mentioned "greats" Layne and Baylor and mom Abbey mourn deeply his loss.

He changed careers in 1973, working as a heavy equipment operator for Cherry County, Nebraska, and continued on with this work on September 7, 1977, when he went to work "at the County" until his retirement from said Logan County Road and Bridge in Sterling, after 36 years of service.

During his time in Sterling, he visited with a recruiter at the Logan County Fair for the Colorado Army National Guard, and the conversation resulted in a successful 13 years of service with the then Signal Corp in Sterling.

Lyle had a unique way of making friends throughout his life by his special way of teasing, encouraging, and generous ways. He always carried his own weight in life's tasks with integrity, intelligence, and confidence in his own ability to do whatever he chose.

Donations in his memory can be made to a favorite charity of choice. A kindness passed on he was often found guilty of, whether a teasing moment with people or just plain having fun in the moment with whoever he encountered. Passing this on would be the greatest tribute to his memory.

You have gained your wings, my husband. Fly high and have fun up there in heaven. Your loving wife, Lila.