Phyllis R. Koch

Phyllis R. Koch, age 102 of Coleridge, NE and formerly of St. James, Nebraska died on Sunday, May 10, 2026 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Family (Sacred Heart) Catholic Church in Wynot, NE with Rev. Owen Korte officiating. Burial will be at Sts. Philip & James Cemetery in St. James, Nebraska. Visitation will be on Tuesday, at Sacred Heart Church in Wynot, from 5-7:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation with continue on Wednesday one hour prior to services. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington, NE.

You may watch a livestream of the funeral service at - www.facebook.com/WintzRay/live 

Pallbearers will be Phyllis’ grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchild.

Phyllis was born on January 20, 1924 at Bunker Hill near Bow Valley, Nebraska to Paul A. and Pauline (Stappert) Noecker. She attended Bunker Hill School District 72, southeast of Bow Valley for six years. In 1935 she moved to St. James with her parents and attended St. James Public School. She graduated from Wynot High school in 1941. After graduation Phyllis worked for her parents who managed the St. James Service Station and Grocery Store. For one winter, she worked as a “Rosie the Riveter” in Omaha which made parts for bomber planes during WWII. The next winter, she worked for an egg plant in Omaha. She would work six months during the winter and then come home during the summer to help her parents.

She married Cyril Francis Koch on October 1, 1945 at Sts. Philip & James Catholic Church in St. James. They lived on a farm in Brookey Bottom several years and in 1952 they moved to a farm south of St. James. She and Cyril celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on October 1995. Phyllis moved to the Embers Assisted Living in Coleridge in September of 2018.

Phyllis belonged to Sts. Philip & James Catholic Church and the Ladies Altar Society. She then belonged to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wynot and the Council of Catholic Women.

You could always find Phyllis outside in her garden, tending to her flowers, putting jigsaw puzzles together or in the kitchen with her children and grandchildren, laughing, playing games and creating memories. Her children and their families were very important to her.

She is survived by five children and spouses – Pat (Jim) Hames of Crofton, Maurice (Vicky) Koch of Wynot, Dennis Koch of Bennington, Mary Lynn Arens of Hartington, Bonnie (George) Tanderup of Newcastle; daughter-in-law Jackie Koch of Hubbard; 22 grandchildren; 41 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; sisters-in-law Mavis Koch of Wynot, Irene Peitz of Orland, CA, many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; husband Cyril on 6-17-2005 at the age of 86; son Richard; son-in-law Chuck Arens, sister and brother-in-law, Erma (Frank) Promes, infant sister Betty Jean Noecker, brother and sister-in-law, Ralph “Bud” (Mary McCluskey) Noecker; infant brother; and great granddaughter Janet Eckmann.