Darrell Koecke

Darrell F. Koecke, age 88, of Dubuque, IA, passed away peacefully at 8:11 p.m. on Monday, March 30, 2015, at UnityPoint Health Finley Hospital. To honor Darrell’s life, funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 4, 2015, at Law Jones Funeral Home with Rev. Michael Meyer officiating. To celebrate Darrell’s life, family and friends may visit from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 4, 2015, at Law Jones Funeral Home, 309 Chicago Ave., Savanna, IL. Burial will be in Savanna Township Cemetery, where full military honors will be accorded.
Darrell was born on November 10, 1926 in Wyalusing, Wisconsin, son of John and Merry (St. Clair) Koecke. Darrell proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force during WWII. Shortly afterwards he met Dorothy Pease in Savannah, IL, where there were eventually united in marriage on June 29, 1947. They eventually moved to Dubuque in 1963 when Darrell began working for Interstate Power as a Maintenance Foreman. He retired in 1993 after 30 years of service. One of Darrell’s lifelong passions was flying and he took great pride in obtaining his private pilots license. Throughout his life, Darrell enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, boating and also morel and ginseng hunting. In his spare time he could be found spending countless hours in his shop working on refinishing antiques and recaning chairs. Darrell was very active and longtime member at both the Bible Church in Savannah and Hope E. Free Church in Dubuque and especially enjoyed his time spent with fellow members of the Over The Hill Group. Darrell was a good man with a kind heart and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Darrell is survived by his wife, Dorothy Koecke, Dubuque, IA; his son, David Koecke, Dubuque, IA; his grandchildren; Jennifer (Joey) Ewen, Reston, VA. Stephanie (Tim) King, Cedar Rapids, IA. his great-granddaughter, Cora Ewen. Darrell was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Stephen Koecke, 2 daughters in infancy; and 1 brother, Dean Koecke. A Darrell F. Koecke memorial fund has been established. The family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Stonehill Care Center and UnityPoint Health Finley Hospital for all their compassionate care of Darrell.