Wilbert A. Koch, 89 of Breese, died Sunday, December 5, 2010 at St. Joseph Hospital in Breese. 

Mr. Koch was born June 25, 1921 in Beckemeyer to Anton and Mary (Dearworth) Koch; they preceded him in death. 

Also preceded in death by a daughter, Jane Koch; a son, Danny Koch; a son-in-law, Kenneth Schrage; a daughter-in-law, Nita Koch; sisters, Marie Koch and Elizabeth Meeker; brothers, Julius Koch and Paul Koch; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Anton and Helena (Koerkenmeier) Steinmann; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ronald Meeker, John Jackson, Bob Munie, Regina and Joe Tebbe, Frank and Ann Steinmann, Veronica Steinmann, Dorothy and Ray Korte, and Ed and Regina Steinmann. 

He married Loretta Steinmann on June 19, 1948 in St. Rose; she survives in Breese. 

Also surviving are his children, Sonny Koch of Carlyle, Jack Koch of Centralia, James P. “Jim” Koch of Centralia, Judy Schrage of Breese, Mike (Eva) Koch of Aviston, and Nancy (Dan) Renschen of Breese: 12 Grandchildren, Niki (Cliff) Tebbe, Adam (Diana) Koch, Tim (Tori) Koch, Chris Koch, Jami (Brad) Richter, Dale (Monica) Koch, Matt Koch, Vicki (fiancé Travis Caraker) Koch, Terri (Adam) Jansen, Chelsey (fiancé Dean Gauch) Renschen, Amanda (fiancé Andrew Beer) Koch, and Emily Renschen; 17 Great-Grandchildren, Lauren Koch, Olivia Koch, Jakob Koch, Marissa Jansen, Allyssa Koch, Emma Koch, Jonathan Koch, Aidan Koch, Noah Koch, Reid Koch, Lyla Koch, Quinn Tebbe, Ryker Tebbe, Spencer Tebbe, Mallory Richter, Jake Richter, and Cecelia Richter; sisters, Gertrude Jackson of Washington, IL, Dolores Munie of Highland; brothers, Charles (Margie) Koch of Eugene, OR and Vince (Betty) Koch of Benson, AZ; and a brother-in law and sisters-in-law, Leonard (Joyce) Steinmann of St. Rose and Bea Koch of Scottsdale, AZ. 

Wilbert retired as a machinist from Nu-Way Services in St. Louis, MO and was a Veteran of the United States Army. 

He was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese, a 50 year member of the Beckemeyer Legion Post 1227, International Association of Machinist Lodge #00777, was a former alderman for the city of Beckemeyer and was on the building committee for the Beckemeyer Fire House. 

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, December 9, 2010 at 10:00 AM at St. Dominic Catholic Church with Fr. Patrick Peter officiating.  Interment will follow in St. Anthony Cemetery, Beckemeyer. 

Visitation will be Wednesday, December 8, 2010 from 4:00-8:00 PM and again on Thursday, December 9, 2010 from 8:00-9:45 AM at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese. 

Memorials can be to the St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary Lights for Scholarship and will be received at the funeral home. 

Beckemeyer American Legion will hold services at 7:00 PM Wednesday evening at the funeral home.