John C. "Jack" Koch

John C. “Jack” Koch, 87, of Muncy, died peacefully December22, 2018, at Leighton Place in Williamsport.  Jack was born September 29, 1931, in Williamsport.  He was the youngest child of John S. and Florence (Neefe) Koch. 

Jack enlisted in the Navy (1951) and served aboard the U. S. S. Tarawa (CV40) aircraft carrier.  She was an ESSEX class carrier able to accommodate 101 aircraft.  Jack was extremely proud to serve his country.  An experience he would not trade for anything. 

He worked in the building trades for many years upon his return from the Navy.  Jack also worked on the New York Central Railroad in the Newberry Yard.  He went on to work twenty-seven years at Sprout Waldron in Muncy as a sheet metal fabricator.  He worked with his good friend Jim until his retirement.  Jack had a keen eye and knack to build and fix anything.  He worked with his Dad to build the family house in Elimsport. 

Jack grew up with a great love of the outdoors due to his father’s influence.  He learned how to fish, trap, hunt and enjoy the shooting sports.  He did all these things from the time he could buy a license and maybe a little earlier.  You know how young boys can be.  In addition to hunting in the great state of Pennsylvania he was able to hunt in Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Canada with his Brother-in-law, Kenny, friends from work and nephew Rick.  Rick says thanks Jack for the 50 plus years of friendship and hunting that we shared.  Jack was a quiet, reserved, independent, conservative and down to earth man.  God Bless.

Jack married Dora Fry Clees July 28, 1974, at the First United Methodist Church in Renovo, Pennsylvania.  The Reverend Charles McCulloh, Sr. performed the ceremony with Ken and Betty Young as best man and maid of honor.  They were married until Dora’s passing on June 5, 2015.

In addition to his parents and wife, Jack was preceded in death by sisters, Genevieve (Buddy) Reidy and Betty (Kenneth) Young; and nephew Kenneth C. Young. 

Surviving are nieces and nephews, DeMeris and Richard Haag, of Queensbury, NY; Jerome Reidy, of Virginia; Linda and Jack Schreiber, of Camarillo, California; Trish and Rich Hafer, of Jersey Shore, PA; Debra and Steve Nelson, of PA; John and Mary Anne Reidy, of Farmington, New Mexico; stepson, Gary and Kathy Clees, of Pennsdale; three step grandsons, Ryan, Luke and Casey Clees.  Ryan, thank you for your dedicated and faithful commitment to help Jack through the years.  There are also 14 great nieces and nephews and 4 step great grandsons surviving.

At the family’s request there will be no calling hours.  A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 29, 2018 in the Muncy Cemetery, 204 E. Penn St., with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Legion, Roland Ritter Post 268, 515 Legion Road, Muncy, PA 17756.

To share memories with the family or to sign a register book you may visit www.grenoblefuneralhome.com  or Rick Haag, 15 Fox Hollow Lane, Queensbury, NY 12804. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John C. "Jack" Koch, please visit our floral store.