Douglas Koch
February 11, 1950 ~ June 8, 2018
Doug passed away on Friday, June 8, 2018 at Essentia Hospital St. Mary’s in Detroit Lakes, MN at the age of 68.
Douglas Steve Koch was born on February 11, 1950, in Grafton, North Dakota to Jerome and Marian (Moen) Nygard. He came to Egeland, North Dakota in 1954 and was adopted in 1959 by Lewis G. and Mabel Koch. He grew up in this area and attended school, graduating from Egeland High School in 1969. He also attended Hansen’s Mechanical School in Fargo. Doug proudly served his country in the United States Air Force from 1971 until his medical discharge in 1973. Doug was united in marriage to Donna Davies on July 13, 1974 in Egeland. They made their home in this area and raised their family. He worked at the Cenex Station in Egeland as a mechanic and also worked for various trucking companies for many years. Doug was very active in his community and volunteered on many boards and organizations throughout the years. Doug and Donna moved to Fargo in 2014 where they have made their home since.
Throughout the years, Doug loved spending time at the lakes fishing and visiting with friends and playing pinochle. He had the gift to befriend anyone and truly enjoyed sharing his stories and listening to others stories. He touched many lives and will be missed greatly by all of his family and many friends.
Doug is survived by his loving wife, Donna of Fargo; his children – Amber (Franz) Tezel of Hager City, WI; Nicole (Tony) Schroeder of East Grand Forks, MN; and Brandon Koch of Fargo; eight beloved grandchildren; and his siblings – Ingrid Koch of Middleton, WI; Gary (Sonya) Hajicek of Grafton, ND; Laurie Foseide of Edinburg, ND; Carole (Kelly) DeMars of Warren, MN; and John (Kristy) Hajicek of Grafton; and numerous nieces and nephews and extended family.
Doug was preceded in death by his biological parents; adoptive parents; foster parents – Ben and Ruth Baumgartner; his brothers – Jeffery Hajicek, David Hajicek and Jerome Johnson; and his grandparents – Henry and Inga Moen, and Peter and Ella Nygard.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the VA Hospital.
My sympathy to all.
Thinking of you all at this difficult time.
My deepest sympathy to the Koch family. Doug became a friend when my brother Ron moved to Egeland and I acquired a hunting house there. He was a frequent visitor to our places and was a steady source of fresh vegetables in the summer. After Ron passed in 2011, Doug continued to drop by for daily visits whenever I was in town and was always interested in how our hunts or my house repair projects were going. He and my brother Al shared the Dodge truck syndrome and many good laughs were had over my insistence that they park away from the house to prevent “Dodge spores” from contaminating Ford country. After he moved to Fargo the visits were fewer but he always stopped by for a chat when we were both in town. I’m going to miss him.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
We loved Doug very much. He was a true friend .
Thinking of you with sympathy. God bless you with His care, comfort, and love.
My deepest sympathy to Donna and all the family. My thoughts are with all of you at this difficult time.
Sandy Nogowski
Thinking of all of you. Praying Gods healing touch will comfort you now and in the days ahead.