Danny Koch was a genuine, sentimental, hard-working, accepting man who had a soft spot for young kids (his children and grandchildren included) and left a positive impression everywhere he went.
Koch – who passed away suddenly on March 16, 2015 from a heart attack – was a born and raised Medicine Hatter, and met his wife Heather in grade one. They were married 35 years and had three children – Jen, Adam, and Candida.
Danny loved his community and had a passion for antique cars, bikes, golf, and the Medicine Hat Tigers. He had a great sense of humour and loved to make people smile and laugh.
In 2002, he 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 and every day, they celebrated how lucky they were and never fought, despite the ups and downs life can bring.
After Danny passed, business carried on as usual and Heather and the kids did their best to adjust to life without this big presence. Unbeknownst to Heather, their daughter Jen connected with the Community Foundation to look into creating a memorial fund for Danny. She contacted her siblings and together they reached out to family, friends, coworkers, suppliers, reps, biker buddies, Rotary friends – pretty much anyone who knew Danny – to see if they’d like to donate and help establish the Danny Koch Memorial Fund.
The response was overwhelming.
Over $12,000 was raised and deposited. On Christmas Day, the last gift that Heather opened was a letter detailing the fund; she was overwhelmed.
Now, just 2.5 years later, the fund has grown to over $20,000 and Heather has designated the funds to help youth in need. She loves to remember how great of a Dad Danny was and how he was always so good with kids, saying they shouldn’t have to want for anything.
His children and wife remember him fondly and tell stories of a kind, generous man who loved his community and left a lasting impact in the 54 years he lived. Now, thanks to the CFSEA’s Danny Koch Memorial fund, his legacy will continue to shape this community forever.
For more information on how you can create a lasting legacy fund, contact us.