Brad A. Koch, 50, of Lincoln, Nebraska, died Sunday, December 8, 2024 in Lincoln.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 14, at 10:00 AM at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Columbus with Rev. Patrick Sparling officiating. Visitation will be on Friday, from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue Saturday, from 9:00 AM until service time at the church.  There will be a family prayer service on Saturday at 9:45 AM at the church.  Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, rural Columbus.  In lieu of flowers, stones, plants, etc., memorials are suggested to Team Mates, Neighbor Works, or GracePoint Institute for Relational Health. The funeral service will be broadcast live on the Gass Haney Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057043736890

Brad Aaron Koch, age 50, loving and beloved father, son, and brother, fought against depression but sadly lost that battle on December 8th. His family and friends will deeply miss his contagious, easy laugh.

Brad was born on August 24, 1974 to Michael Koch Sr. and Dianne Fittje (nee Kohtz) in Columbus. God the Father adopted Brad as his own child and heir of everlasting life through the waters of Holy Baptism at Zion Lutheran in Leigh. Brad learned about his loving Savior in Worship, Sunday School and family devotions. In time He confessed with his mouth that Jesus was Lord and that God had raised Jesus from the dead when He confirmed the faith at St. John's Lutheran Church North of Columbus.

Known for his leap before looking attitude, his favorite childhood past time was having people sign his casts for his many broken arms. That same attitude led to his love of loud music, his Firebird, silk shirts, and his sweet mullet.

After he graduated from Lakeview High School in 1993, Brad attended Southeast Community College in Milford, NE and received an Associate degree in Building Construction. He found great joy in construction even designing and building his own home near Branched Oak Lake.

His friendly and warm personality led him to find success in real estate and mortgage lending where he advanced to Mortgage Branch Manager at US Bank. He also had many rental properties.

Brad received his greatest joys in life, his daughter Taryn in 2002 and his son Ethan in 2003. He found incredible joy in seeing them grow and succeed.

Brad was a friend to many people. He was easy to like and was often the life of the party who loved to see other people have a good time. With his family he was the fun uncle who gave boat rides, the one who was always ready for a pitch game, and the one who brought and then ate the pickled herring.

Brad loved his family, friends, boating, skiing, and football.  His family grieves in hope that Brad is with Christ and are thankful for the blessings that God gave to them by having Brad in their lives.

At the time of his passing, he had been attending Christ Lutheran in Lincoln with his dear friend, April Skoda.

He is survived by his two children, Taryn Koch of Scottsdale, AZ and Ethan Koch of Fort Carson, CO, his parents Dianne and step-father Lyle Fittje of Columbus, NE; brothers Michael (Kristen) Koch, Jr. of Columbus, NE, Joel (Merin) Koch of Platte Center, NE, Nathaniel (Kristin) Fittje of Kearney, NE, and Kyle (Kristen) Fittje of Lockwood, MO, and his Grandmother Norma Koch of Columbus, NE.  Also, a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his father, Michael Koch Sr., Grandparents, Erwin and Mildred Kohtz, Walter Koch, Paul and Eunice Fittje, and nephews Ole and Bjorn Fittje.