Gary D. Koch Sr.
1936 - 2009
After a long and courageous battle of 17 years with Stage D prostate cancer, with a PSA of 3170 and Metastatic bone disease Gary went on to a new pain free life with our Lord on March 16, 2009. Gary was born on March 6, 1936 in Denver, CO to Stanley “Lil” Koch and Marianne Pullen Koch. On December 30, 1956 he married Nancy Sayre Koch in Boulder, CO. He served in the Air Force at Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, NE and was assigned to the SAC command band as a percussionist and started his aviation career by getting his pilot license in an Aeronca and moved up to instruct in the Aero Club. He then was assigned to Harmon AFB, Newfoundland, Canada, were he obtained his DOT ratings and taught flying while continuing to play in the band. After the service he went into flight instructing in Boulder, CO, then was a fixed base operator for Beeline Aviation in Colorado Springs, CO where he was a FAA Pilot Examiner. During these years he and Nancy had 4 boys. Soon after this adventure he joined the FAA as an Operations Inspector in the Phoenix GADO. He then moved the family to Casper, WY where he was an Accident Prevention Specialist, then on to Jeffco Airport in Broomfield, CO. After 10 years he moved to Los Angeles, CA to the FAA Regional Office, then on the Washington, DC as the Accident Prevention Coordinator with 9 Regions though out the US. He participated with the EAA at Oshkosh, WI and Sun 'n Fun in Lakeland, FL. After 5 years he moved back to Scottsdale, AZ as the FSDO Office manager. He retired from the FAA on March 31, 1994 with 32 years of government service. He was a gifted speaker with a wonderful sense of humor. He took his”dog and pony show” on the road giving countless slide presentations to many organizations talking on Accident Prevention. He also did a successful Super Seminar here in Phoenix including John Denver on the program. He was in on the beginning of the Wings program. After retirement he worked with the Phoenix 500 Air Races, Arizona Flyways magazine and SIMCOM. He was a member of QB's, Silver Wings and AOPA. During all these years he kept up his drumming and continued to belong to the Denver Musicians Union, Local #20 in Denver, CO since he was a teen. His hobbies were model trains, building model planes, RC boats, planes and cars, fly fishing in CO and listening to great jazz music. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Nancy, sons Gary Jr. (Carolyn), Colorado Springs, CO, Andrew, Las Vegas, NV, and Timothy (Becky), Simi Valley, CA and 8 grandchildren and 6 great-grand children and a sister Gail (Spud) Renzelman, Littleton, CO. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son Mark (3-25-06). Gary loved his family and was proud of each and everyone of them. Thanks to Drs' Tiro, Paull, Flores and the oncology nurses Marsha, Palee, and Lettie and all the help from the Scottsdale Healthcare Home Health Services Staff. Mass will be held Tuesday, March, 24th at St. Joan of Arc Church, 3801 Greenway Rd. at 11:30am, followed by a Celebration of his life at Palm Lakes Village Clubhouse, 16415 N. 33rd Way. He will be buried later this summer in Boulder, CO. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to an aviation scholarship fund. Please send donations to N. Koch, P.O. Box 31333, Phoenix, AZ 85046-1333.