Elda Rose Koch

Elda Rose Koch, 93, of Marysville, KS, died June 26, 2023, at her home. Visitation was Thursday, June 29, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Kinsley Mortuary. A rosary service was held at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, at St. Gregory's Catholic Church in Marysville. A funeral mass was held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 30, at St. Gregory's Catholic Church. Father Quentin Schmitz officiated. Rosemary Forst played the organ while Paula Landoll-Smith led the congregation in singing "Morning Has Broken", "On Eagles Wings", "Hail Mary, Gentle Woman", "I Am The Bread of Life" and "We Shall Rise Again." The pallbearers were Mathew Elliott, Joshua Seematter, Jacob Seematter, Kevin Johannes, Isaac Koch and Nathan Johannes. Burial was in St. Gregory's Catholic Cemetery. Elda Rose was born December 28, 1929, in Kelly, KS, daughter of Anthony and Elizabeth (Heinen) Wilhelm. Her First Communion was at St. Bede’s Catholic Church at Kelly. The family moved to Seneca where she attended Victory Country School and later transferred to St. Peter and Paul Catholic School. In 1947, she graduated from St. Peter and Paul Catholic High School. On November 15, 1952, she married Mark Koch at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. In 1961, they moved to a farm south-east of Marysville where they made their home. Elda Rose was a homemaker and worked together with her husband on their dairy farm. She worked at Farm Service Association from 1947-1952, cleaned at the Surf Motel from 1964-1994, and Heritage Motel from 1994-2009. She lived a faith-filled life devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary and could often be found with a rosary in her pocket. Elda Rose enjoyed mailing cards and notes to her family for their birthdays and anniversaries. She also enjoyed doing handwork, crocheting, embroidering, working outside with her flowers and garden, tending her chickens and making jams and jelly from any berries that were currently in season including using apples to make apple butter. She was a lady that was strong, determined, independent, frugal and faith-filled. Elda Rose was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Mark on August 3, 2014; brother, Lester Wilhelm; sister, Gladys Forst; and son-in-law, Jim Johannes. Survivors include her children, Michael (Carole) Koch, White Bear, MN, Gail Johannes, Waterville, KS, Jane Seematter, Marysville, Lori (Howard) Elliott, Hiawatha, KS, and Randy (Tori) Koch, Olathe, KS; eleven grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren. A memorial fund has been established to St. Gregory’s Catholic School Scholarship Funds or Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation. Contributions may be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elda Rose Koch, please visit our flower store.