Fern Marie Koch, 80, of Norfolk, Nebraska, (formerly of Creston, Nebraska), died Saturday, September 7, 2024, at Heritage of Bel Air in Norfolk.

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 10:00 AM, at St. John's Lutheran Church, 12.5 north of Columbus, Nebraska, with Rev. Paul Rempfer officiating.  Interment will follow in Creston Fairview Cemetery, Creston, Nebraska.  Visitation will be on Tuesday from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue Wednesday from 9:00 AM until service time at the church.  There will be a family prayer service on Wednesday at 9:45 AM at the church.  Memorials are suggested to the Creston Rescue Unit.

Fern was born January 11, 1944, in Columbus, Nebraska, to Edgar and Hilda (Johannes) Littelman.  She was baptized and confirmed her Christian faith through confirmation at Zion Lutheran Church in Leigh, Nebraska.  Fern attended Zion Lutheran Parochial School and graduated from Leigh High School.  On May 18, 1963, Fern was united in marriage to H. David Koch at Zion Lutheran Church.  Fern worked for Dale Electronics in Columbus, Rose's Grocery & Gifts in Creston, and for many years for Creston Fertilizer in Creston.

Fern and Dave enjoyed attending their children's and grandchildren's sporting events, going camping and riding 4-wheelers.  She had a wonderful sense of humor, a fun-loving nature, and a beautiful smile that will be missed by all her friends and family.  Fern, along with Dave, were members of the Creston Gun Club, and she was a founding member of the Creston Rescue Unit.  She participated in Women of the Outdoors activities, a member of the Country Piecemakers Quilting Guild and the Unfinished Objects Quilting Group.  She also attended many quilting retreats.  Fern was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church.

Fern is survived by:
Daughter – Regina (Al) Busboom of Norfolk, NE
Daughter – Sonya Liss of Columbus, NE
Grandsons – Timothy (Stephanie) Gall of Topeka, KS; great grandchildren – Liev, Landry, Lennyn
Jeremy (Holly) Gall of Elkhorn, NE; great grandchildren – Larkin, Kendall, Camden, and Jordyn
Ben (Karla) Busboom of Omaha, NE; great grandchildren – Rory and Behrend
Ethan Neuhaus of Creston, NE
Granddaughters – Andrea (Josh) Bakenhus of Elkhorn, NE; great grandchildren – Gage & Ellison
Talia (Bobby) Matherne of Lafitte, LA; great grandchild Wesson; great-great grandchild Naomi
Sister – Doris (Paul) Schwarz of Columbus, NE
Sisters & Brothers-in-law –
Lonny Koch of Lincoln, NE
Jody (Debi) Koch of Columbus, NE
Monty (Carolyn) Koch of Creston, NE
Klao Loseke Hughes of LaVista, NE
Vicki (George) Ternus of Creston, NE
Melanie (Jim) Arlt of Ashland, NE
Rhonda (Randy) Kleensang of Hoskins, NE
Wendy (Dale) Rahtz of Leigh, NE
Many nieces and nephews

Fern was preceded in death by:
Parents – Edgar & Hilda Littelman
Husband – H. David Koch
Son-in-law – Duane Liss
Parents-in-law – Harvey & Avis Koch
Brothers-in-law – Raymond Loske and Richard Hughes