Shirley Joanne Koch

Shirley Joanne Koch, 64, of Berrien Springs, Michigan, was called home on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 while visiting her family in Dripping Springs, Texas, after a long battle with breast cancer. Joanne, which she preferred to go by, was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan on November 22, 1949 to Thomas Flener and Marjorie E. Baker (O’Daniel). Upon relocating to Berrien Springs early on after her marriage, Joanne held several positions in the community before finding her true calling, working with special needs children at Blossomland Learning Center for 15 years before retiring in 2011. She enjoyed chatting up friends and customers at the local Rite Aid where she also worked for 8 years. It only took mere moments of speaking with Joanne to discover her true passions, her family and sports. Joanne was a very well-known fan on the local and surrounding area sports circuit for many years. Her final days were spent right where she wanted to be, watching the loves of life playing ball, her grandchildren. Joanne was preceded in death by her father in 1959 and her step-father, Victor V. Baker, in 1971. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Will Koch; sons, William and Jonathon Sr. (Danielle); grandchildren, Holly, Nathan, Grace, Kyle, Jonathon Jr. and Trent Koch and Kaleb Klinger, all of Dripping Springs, Texas; her mother, three sisters and one brother. Funeral services will be held at 1pm Friday, April 25, 2014 at Starks Heritage Chapel at 8747 US 31 Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103. Friends may call Thursday, April 24, 2014 from 5pm – 7pm. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Those wishing to share a memory of Shirley online may do so at www.heritagechapel.com