Danny Koch was a genuine, sentimental, hard-working, accepting man who had a soft spot for young kids, his children and grandchildren included. He left a positive impression everywhere he went.
Heather and Danny met on their first day of Grade 1 at St. Mary’s School in Medicine Hat. Their families lived in the same neighborhood as they grew up. They were always friends and attended school together all the way through to Grade 12. In junior high, they briefly dated then found each other again in Grade 11; they were true high school sweethearts! Danny always said he “chased Heather until she caught him.” They married in November 1980, when they were 20 years old, and started a family in 1983. They have three children – Jen, Adam, and Candida.
In 2002, Danny and Heather decided to open a business together, Sofas & More. Danny told people that “spending only 12 hours a day with my wife isn’t enough.” Each day, they celebrated how lucky they were and never fought, despite the ups and downs life brought.
Tragically, on March 16, 2015, Danny passed away suddenly from a heart attack.
After Danny had passed, Heather and their kids did their best to adjust to life without his presence. Unbeknownst to Heather, their daughter, Jen, contacted the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta to explore establishing a memorial fund for her dad. She contacted her siblings and together they reached out to family, friends, coworkers, suppliers, biker buddies, Rotary friends – anyone who knew Danny – to see if they would like to donate and help establish the Danny Koch Memorial Fund.
The response was tremendous. On Christmas Day, the last gift that Heather opened was a letter detailing the Danny Koch Memorial Fund; she was overwhelmed.
Heather loves to look back and remember how great Danny was at being a dad and how he always supported his kids. Danny loved children and always hoped to volunteer for children’s groups once he retired. Because of this passion, in 2019 their family choose to re-establish this fund as a Field of Interest fund so that the annual distributions would specifically support agencies that care for vulnerable youth.
Danny often said, “success in life is not measured by how much money is left behind, but rather on the life lived and the impact it had.”
The Danny Koch Memorial Fund has supported numerous agencies since it was created in 2015, including the community’s greatest needs through Smart and Caring Grants, and most recently funding both the Redcliff Youth Action Society and the Town of Redcliff Library Board’s Bike Lending Program.
His wife and children remember Danny fondly and tell stories of a kind and generous man who loved his community and left a lasting impact in his 54 years. Because of the Danny Koch Memorial Fund, his legacy will continue to shape this community, forever.
“30 Stories for 30 Years”