Edward J. Koches' Obituary
Edward J. Koches, age 81, of Strongsville, OH, passed away on January 17, 2026.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 57 years, Carole (nee Niemenski), and his caring sisters, Marian Koches Semelsberger (Ken) of Strongsville, and Carol A. Koches of Indiana, PA.
Ed’s nephews and niece – Ken Semelsberger (Claudia), Lisa Semelsberger McGreal, and the late Kevin Semelsberger – adored him, as did grandnephews and grandnieces Kenny, Danny, Sammie, Drew, Jessie, and Brett Semelsberger, and Noah (Katie), Ian, Riley, and Caden McGreal. His extended family includes sister-in-law Christina Guzi (deceased) and husband Mike; nephews David, Jeff, Jerry (Pam), and Michael (Karen); and grandnephew Anthony and grandnieces Michele and Celia. His closeknit group of neighbors and many friends will miss him dearly.
Ed was born on July 21, 1944 in Clymer, PA, the son of William Koches and Mary Petras Koches. He graduated from Penn’s Manor in 1962, and soon after, followed his big sister, Marian, in moving to Cleveland.
Good with numbers and even better with people, Ed began his career at the Holan Division of Ohio Brass and then became production/purchasing manager at Kirkwood Commutator, where he met a pretty blonde coworker named Carole. After 25 years at Kirkwood, he joined Scot Labs in Chagrin Falls, where he worked for 15 years.
Ed and Carole were inseparable for six decades, doing everything together from shopping and running errands, to cheering on Cleveland sports teams, to going to restaurants in and around their beloved Strongsville, always among the first to know and share about the newest places.
They loved traveling and their annual vacations; Ed’s favorite spots were Hilton Head, Vegas, and Indianapolis, where they attended the Indy 500 10 years in a row. In their retirement years, they enjoyed visiting area casinos with friends and groups from their church, St. John Neumann, and the Strongsville Senior Center.
Ed loved to golf – any time, any place. He also bowled for many years – sometimes in three leagues at a time. While he enjoyed watching all sports, college football was his favorite and he remained a staunch Penn State fan all his life.
Ed was a lifelong member of the Pittsburgh-based National Slovak Society, serving on its Board of Directors for many years. He was also active in the local chapter of the NSS, serving in various leadership roles and helping to organize its many social activities.
Above all, Ed was a supportive and loving uncle, who never missed a niece’s or nephew’s school or sports event, birthday party, or graduation, and in fact, was always the first to arrive there. He also never missed a chance to remind them to be safe, whether that was to lock the doors at home or be careful driving to their destination, no matter how close. He delighted in taking them places, with trips to Memphis Kiddie Park among his favorite outings. He was an integral part of every family celebration and milestone, and he always made sure his family knew how much he loved and appreciated them.
Friends are invited to visit with the family at Jardine Funeral Home, 15822 Pearl Road, Strongsville, on Wednesday, Jan. 21 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at St. John Neumann, 16271 Pearl Road, Strongsville, on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Strongsville Cemetery.
Donations in Ed’s honor can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
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