GERMAINE "GERRI" KOCH
Germaine “Gerri” Koch (Cook) passed away peacefully on Camano Island. Gerri always loved a party and it was among many family members visiting and remembering our special times with Gerri: wife, mother, grandma, sister, and aunt, that she took her leave from this Earth.
Gerri was born in Redfield, S. Dakota, the sixth child in a family of fourteen, to Francis Leon Cleberg and Isabelle Marie Esser Cleberg. Gerri grew up on a farm outside of Redfield, attended a oneroom country school consisting primarily of her siblings, Redfield High School, and St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Pierre, S. Dakota. While in Pierre, she met and married the love of her life, Richard Koch. They were married on April 29, 1961. Richard “Dick” and Gerri lived in Pierre and Aberdeen, S. Dakota before their move to the great Northwest. They lived for a time in Seattle and their final move was to Camano Island in 1968. During Gerri’s nursing career she was employed at hospitals in Pierre, Aberdeen, Seattle, and at a physician’s office in Stanwood, and also at Camano Shore Nursing Home and Josephine Nursing Home.
Gerri moved from nursing to building houses with her husband, Dick, and continued to be his main helper until their retirement.
Gerri leaves behind many family and friends with fond and fun memories of time spent with her. She is survived by her faithful husband, Richard; children Craig Koch (Sandy), Ron Koch, Susan Koch Shaw (Ed), Darla Koch Rosebrook (Bryan); 14 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, five sisters, five brothers, and more than a hundred nieces and nephews on both the Koch and Cleberg sides of the family.
A memorial service will be held Tues., Nov. 3, 5 p.m. at Gilbertson Funeral Home in Stanwood, Wash. Her funeral service and mass will be held at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Stanwood at 11 a.m. on Wed., Nov. 4. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Providence Hospice of Snohomish County, 2731 Wetmore Avenue #500, Everett, WA 98201 or at www. providence.org/phhc or Providence Regional Cancer Partnership, 1717 13 Street, Everett, WA. 98201.
