HOLYROOD — Harold E. Koch, 87, passed away Oct. 1, 2016, in Salina.
He was born in the telephone office in Bushton on May 31, 1929, to Edward and Grace (Flannery) Koch. On Feb. 19, 1950, he married Betty Kemmerer in Great Bend. She survives him. Shortly after serving his country in the United States Army during the Korean War, Harold and Betty returned to Kansas to work at his family’s business, The Bushton Telephone Co. Soon after that, they purchased the Holyrood Telephone Co. which they later incorporated into H&B Communications of Holyrood. Harold then served as co-owner and general manager of H&B Communications for nearly 30 years.
Mr. Koch was a member of the Holyrood American Legion Post 200 and the Seventh Day Adventist church of Hutchinson. He also formerly served as the mayor of Holyrood for 20 years.
Survivors include his wife Betty; daughter, DelJeane Nash (Don) of Holyrood; son, Rob Koch (Kathy) of Holyrood; grandchildren, Marlena Jahn (Andy), Brandon Koch (Alisha), Allison Koch, Justin Nash (Kelli), and Brent Nash; and great-grandchildren, Ethan, Camron, Kinsey, Hailey, Payton, Chloe, Emily, Trenton, and Alexa. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sisters, Phyllis Loudenback and Lillian Ricker.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Holyrood with burial following in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with family present 6 to 8 p.m. at Parsons Funeral Home in Ellsworth.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy or the Holyrood Park Committee in care of the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Parsons Funeral Home*
P.O. Box 45
Ellsworth, KS. 67439
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Oct. 5, 2015