A Celebration of Life Service for Marjorie Koch, age 96, of Isle, MN, formerly of Windom, MN, will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 11:00 a.m. at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Windom, with Reverend Paul Sajban officiating. Burial will be at Lakeview Cemetery in Windom.
A time of visitation and gathering will be held on Monday evening, Aug. 28 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the LaCanne Family Celebration of Life Center in Windom and on Tuesday for one hour prior to the service at the church in Windom.
Arrangements are under the care of the LaCanne Family Celebration of Life Center in Windom. Condolences and memories of Marjorie may be sent online to www.lacannefuneralhome.com.
Marjorie “Margie” Mary (Gilbraith) Koch was the first-born child to the late, John and Blanche (Link) Gilbraith, on Sept. 13, 1926, in Devils Lake, ND. She was baptized and confirmed in Crary, ND, where she grew up. Growing up on the farm, Margie had a special love for horses and was charged with caring for and training all the horses. She even drove the horse and buggy to school with her siblings. Her brother Laurin once said, “She was the best damn farmhand in the area!” Margie attended Crary High School and earned the honor of Salutatorian of the graduating class of 1943.
On March 14, 1945, Marjorie was united in marriage to John Frederick Lewis Koch in Devils Lake and later moved to Solway, MN, where the couple lived for about seven years. Margie and John were blessed with eight children, Laura, Walter, Morris, Theodore, Charlotte, Douglas, Richard, and Ronda. Marjorie dedicated herself to her family as a homemaker for many years, no doubt cooking, cleaning, and keeping up with laundry for her growing family.
In March 1955, the family moved to Windom, MN, and later to Bingham Lake, where they lived until John passed away, in March of 1984. In 1990, Margie moved to Windom before her final big move to Isle, MN, to live with Char and Kirby. After her children were grown, Margie worked at the Toro Company for 25 years in assembly, receiving, and she was a pioneer, working as one of the first female forklift operators at the Windom plant. She retired from Toro after 25 years of service, in 1999, at the age of 72. Margie was an Avon consultant and waitress, but she especially loved quilting. She had a room full of fabric, and proudly made quilts for her children, grandchildren, and even found time to make quilts for some of the great-grandchildren.
Over the years, Margie offered her gifts and talents in the church and the community. She served as secretary, treasurer, and a District Delegate with the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML), and she was on the Altar Guild and Funeral Committee and a quilter. She also served as a volunteer driver taking people to appointments for more than 20 years with Western Community Action, she was an usher for plays at the Business, Arts & Recreation Center (BARC) in Windom, she volunteered to deliver Meals on Wheel, and Margie also volunteered her time with Senior Dining.
In February 2023, Margie moved to Golden Horizons Assisted Living and Memory Care in Sandstone, MN. She passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023, at Golden Horizons, at the age of 96 years. Margie lived a full life and was blessed with a wonderful family and friends.
Left to cherish her beloved memory, are her children, Laura McGuire of Windom, Theodore (June Koch) Koch of Windom, Charlotte (Kirby) Kruse of Isle, Richard (Brenda) Koch of Windom, and Ronda Renee Koch of Mankato; daughters-in-law, Janet Koch and Sharon Koch; 18 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; siblings, Max (Jane) Gilbraith of Fargo, ND, Lavina (Blair) Burner of Belview, WA, Laurin Gilbraith of Grand Forks, ND, Leon Gilbraith of Grand Forks, and Carolyn Held of Minot, ND; as well as many other relatives and friends.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband, John Koch; parents, John & Blanche; sons, Walter, Morris and Douglas Koch; grandson, Miles Bjorkland; son-in-law, Brian McGuire; brothers, Dave Gilbraith and Glen Gilbraith; sisters, June Braaten and Sylvia Gilbraith.
