Rev. Ivor D. Koch, 86, of Wichita Falls, passed away Wednesday, October 18, 2017. A Prayer service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in What Cheer. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery at What Cheer. Friends may offer condolences to the family at www.hollandcoblefuneralhomes.com.


Ivor was born on November 5, 1930 in What Cheer, Iowa to Fred and Elsie Marie (Tancer) Koch. He graduated from What Cheer Independent School in 1948 as Valedictorian, and later attended Iowa Wesleyan University and Iowa State University. After an 18 month hospital stay for tuberculosis prompted his going back to What Cheer, Iowa where he joined his father in the floral and greenhouse business, Ivor established a flower shop and began designing arrangements. During those years, he designed floral arrangements state wide as well as for many other states. Ivor held office in the Iowa State Florist Association having won several awards for his floral designs. He served as a Grand Knight on the Windthorst Council #1457 in Iowa and was Mayor of What Cheer, Iowa after which he ran for State Representative in his congressional district.

After years in the floral business, Ivor decided he had a vocation. He attended Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corner, Wisconsin and was ordained to the priesthood on June 14, 1986 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wichita Falls. He was appointed Parochial Vicar at Most Blessed Church in Arlington, St. Michaels in Bedford, and Our Mother of Mercy parish in Hillsboro. He then was appointed Parochial Vicar for the parishes of St. Mary's in Henrietta, St. Joseph in Nocona, St. Jerome's in Bowie, and St. Williams in Montague. In 1990, he was appointed pastor at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wichita Falls where he remained for 29 years. While at Sacred Heart he helped plan the remodeling of the church, helped establish the Mom's group for the Mother's in the parish, and The Jubilee Club for the Senior Citizens of the parish.
Throughout the years, Father Koch served as police chaplain for the Wichita Falls police department, chaplain of the prison ministry, and served as the chaplain of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Assembly #1108. He was active in the Council of Catholic Women where he was Moderator for 20 years, he helped to establish the Knights of Columbus Council 10998 25 years ago, and was a member of the Equestrian Aides of the Holy Sepulchre. Father Koch loved his horses and flowers. He was a collector of horses and carousels and had a extensive collection of both.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Elsie Koch; and his sister, Linda Bates.

He is survived by his brother-in-law, Paul Bates; his nephews, Jim Bates and wife Debbie, and Duane Bates and wife Kathy; his great-niece, Andrea Fowler and husband Brad; great-nephew, Greg Bates; and great-great niece, Aislinn.