Aaron Koch

Aaron Matthew Koch, age 41, of Mt. Sterling, Illinois, passed away at 9:35 p.m. on Sunday, April 2, 2023, at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illinois.

Aaron was born on July 29, 1981, in Quincy, Illinois, the son of Paul Edward Koch and Charlotte Jean Behymer Koch. He married Amber Michel Gallaher on November 9, 2013, in Galena, Illinois. Aaron was a devoted husband and father, and he and Amber had three cherished sons — Aaden Frese, Eli Koch, and Maxwell Koch. Aaron’s greatest joy was spending time with his family: playing video games and golfing with Aaden, playing at a park and swimming with Eli, and going on walks and playing board games with Max. Aaron and Amber were best friends who could have fun doing anything, as long as they were together.

Aaron graduated from Brown County High School with the class of 1999, and later received an associate’s degree from John Wood Community College and a bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University. After living in southern California for several years after college and working as a manager at Target, Aaron returned home to Mt. Sterling and worked at Dot Foods for over 10 years. He was admired by his coworkers: they knew him as a positive and upbeat person with a dry sense of humor, and one who lived by the golden rule and was there for those who needed him. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Mt. Sterling, enjoyed golfing with friends and family, and was a lifelong fan of the San Antonio Spurs and St. Louis Cardinals.

Survivors include his wife, Amber, and his sons, Aaden, Eli, and Max; his parents, Paul and Charlotte Koch of Mt. Sterling; his mother-in-law, Sharon Rardon (Robert) of Clayton; two brothers, William Koch of Troy, Missouri, and Brian Koch of Chicago, Illinois; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, LeeRoy and Wilma Behymer; his paternal grandparents, William and Helen Koch; and his father-in-law, Michael Gallaher.

Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 10, 2023, at the Hendricker Funeral Home in Mt. Sterling. A funeral mass will be held at 10:00  a.m. on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mt. Sterling with Father Aaron Kuhn and Deacon Mike Ellerman officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Sterling Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to his children’s education fund.

The Hendricker Funeral Home in Mt. Sterling is assisting the family with the arrangements.

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