Geraldine Koch

Geraldine “Gerry” Koch passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on March 31, 2025 at MorningStar Assisted Living in West Des Moines, Iowa. She was 92 years old.

Gerry was born on June 6, 1932, in Westphalia, Iowa to Cecelia and William Andersen. She attended St. Mary, Our Lady of Fatima School in Portsmouth, Iowa. While in high school, she was invited to a local dance by her two cousins and a young man named Charlie Koch. That night marked the beginning of a lifelong love story. Gerry and Charlie were married on October 26, 1954, after Charlie returned from serving in the Korean War, and they started their life together in Omaha, Nebraska.

In 1973, Gerry and Charlie moved to West Des Moines, Iowa where Gerry ran an in-home daycare, nurturing and loving many lucky children. She was an avid church-goer and member of Sacred Heart Parish for over 50 years, where she could often be heard proudly singing along to her favorite hymns. Gerry was a faithful servant of her Father, always praying for others and reminding her children to offer prayers of thanksgiving for all of life’s blessings. She was a generous woman, displaying selfless love in its truest form.

Gerry made and donated hundreds of rosaries to missionaries across the world, often calling on the hands of her many grandchildren to help “string beads.” She loved her crafts and would find ways to repurpose ordinary household items into beautiful works of art. Gerry had a green thumb and always kept her house surrounded by beautiful gardens. She loved cardinals and kept her bird feeders full.

Gerry and Charlie enjoyed traveling in their motorhome and escaping the winters to the south, where they met many lifelong friends and tested their card-playing and gambling skills. Gerry was a notorious card and bingo player, and always carried a coin purse, just in case.

Although we miss her dearly, we find great solace knowing that she will be forever dancing among the stars with her soulmate and best friend, Charlie. The family would like to thank all of those who lovingly cared for Gerry this past year.

Gerry is survived by one son, Robert “Bob” (Karen) Koch, Omaha, NE; six daughters, Shirley (Rick) Taylor, Urbandale, IA, Sharon (Kirby) Roenfeld, Mineola, IA, Carol (Mark) Weaver, West Des Moines, IA, Barbara (Jeff) Borts, West Des Moines, IA, Julie (Allan) Drees, West Des Moines, IA, and Geri Ann (John) Farley, Sergeant Bluff, IA; 14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren (with three more on the way); her brothers, LaVerne Andersen, Omaha, NE, and Roger Zimmerman, Omaha, NE; sister-in-law, Mary “Toots” (Leroy) Lampe, Omaha, NE, and brother-in-law, Walter (Elaine) Koch, Council Bluffs, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

Gerry is preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Charlie; infant daughter, Teri Ann; parents, Cecelia Zimmerman and William Andersen; stepfather, Hubert Zimmerman; and brothers, Gerald Andersen and William Andersen.

Family will be available during a visitation service at Caldwell Parrish, Urbandale, IA, on Monday, April 7, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, with a rosary starting at 7:00 pm. A funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday, April 8, at 10:30 am. A luncheon will follow the mass in the parish hall. Gerry will be laid to rest with her husband at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, IA at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family for memorials to Dowling Catholic High School and Sacred Heart Catholic Church.