Dr. Thomas Henry Koch, 88, passed away Friday, June 27, 2025 at Ridgecrest Village. The small city doctor delivered over 6,000 babies during his career as an OB/ GYN.
Born in Davenport, Iowa, son of Victor and Hazel (Wiese) Koch, Tom grew up in Eldridge, Iowa. He joined his cousins to work on his uncle’s farm, learning to work hard, love the land, and raise crops and animals. He also decided he wanted to pursue a different path in life.
After graduating from Davenport High School, class of 1954, Tom enrolled at Iowa State University, but his education was interrupted when he was drafted into the Army. He specialized in missile electronics as a student and then became an instructor. After being discharged, he earned a degree in mathematics at Iowa State. Not satisfied, he then moved on to earn degrees in Chemistry and Medicine at the University of Iowa. He served an internship at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and was inspired to become an OB/ GYN. He returned to the University of Iowa to specialize in OB/GYN.
His initial practice was in Freeport Illinois in 1972 and then he moved to Macomb, Illinois where he retired from medicine in 2001. He continued as a teacher and mentor at a junior college in Macomb.
He loved learning and used travel to expand his knowledge, with a mission to visit hospitals in Hawaii, China, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Turkey, Italy, Greece, Germany, and Holland.
He is survived by his son Clifton Koch, brother Michael and Debbie McDaniel, sisterin law Sharon Koch, sister-in-law Lana Koch, and special friend and High School classmate Virginia Telsrow.
He is preceded in death by his parents Victor and Hazel Koch, step-father Charles McDaniel, brother Larry Koch, and brother Dennis Koch.
Funeral Services were held at Runge Mortuary on Thursday July 3rd, 2025, at 10 am at The Runge Mortuary, with visitation one hour prior to the service at the mortuary in Davenport. His final resting place will be in Pine Hill Cemetery with military honors following the service. Memorials may be directed to the Wounded Warrior Foundation.
