Thomas A. Koch

Thomas A. Koch, 71, of Chatham, NJ and Green Lake, WI passed away on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at UW-Hospital in Madison with his family by his side. Thomas was born the son of Carl N. and Marjorie (Autrey) Koch on June 25, 1947 in Beaver Dam, WI. He was a graduate of Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam and received his undergraduate and MBA degrees from George Washington University in Washington DC. Tom served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War as a Chinese linguist and worked in Naval Intelligence. After returning from the Navy, he worked for Senator Cliff Hansen of Wyoming in Washington DC. Tom later dedicated his career to finance in New York City. He was married to Barbara Donoghue on June 30, 1973 in Washington DC. In his youth Tom looked forward to spending his summers with family and friends on Green Lake, a life-long love that he visited each year. The lake was one of his greatest joys and was ‘a place that nourished his soul.’ A natural gentleman, and a charismatic individual, Tom had an extraordinary ability to build and maintain life-long friendships with people of all backgrounds. He didn’t just believe in simply living life but living life well; surrounding himself with his family and friends, never missing a party, and encouraging others to smile and laugh until his final days. Tom will be remembered by his family and friends as an accomplished financier, a dapper dresser, a witty conversationalist, a devoted friend, and as a generous and loving husband and father. He will be dearly missed by all those that knew him. Tom is survived by his wife of 45 years, Barbara of Chatham, NJ; his children: Lauren Koch of Chatham, NJ and Thomas Koch of New York, NY; his sisters: Mary (Charles) Barclay of Severna Park, MD and Kathy (Mike) Kremer of Middleton, WI; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents. A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, August 18, 2018 at the Terrace Shores Evangelical Free Church, W3278 Cty. Rd. K, Markesan, WI 53946 from 10 a.m. until the time of the memorial service at 11 a.m. at the church. Military honors will conclude the memorial service at the church. Inurnment will take place at Oakwood Cemetery in Beaver Dam. Memorials may be directed to Green Lake Conservancy, Inc. (920-294-3592), PO Box 52, Green Lake, WI 54941. See also: http://www.greenlakeconservancy.org/. Or to The Grace Foundation (“In Tom Koch’s memory”), 2625 N. Harding Blvd. Wauwatosa, WI 53226. See also: http://www.givinggrace.org/.