W. Koch

W. Robert "Bob" Koch was born on March 25th, 1925 as the second child of Elizabeth (Fiscus) and William Henry Koch. Bob passed away peacefully on November 7th, 2015 at the age of 90, having spent his entire life fully engaged in the Madison community both professionally and personally.
Bob had a happy childhood living in a three-story flat on the four hundred block of West Washington Avenue with his parents, sister, two grandmothers, and one grandfather. In his youth, he would walk to the Capitol Square, State Street, St. Raphael grade school and to Madison Central High School where he graduated in 1943.
After serving in WWII as an MP, Bob returned to Madison and in 1948 he earned a B.A. degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After graduating, he began working at Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, now American Family Insurance Group, embarking on a career with the company that would span 42 years. His devotion to American Family never waned as he held the positions of Sales Training Director, Marketing Vice President, President, and, for his final eight years, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He retired from American Family in 1990 having left his indelible mark on the company.
A devout Catholic all his life, Bob married the love of his life, Phyllis Voegeli in 1950 at St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison. They enjoyed 64 years of marriage and enduring love and respect for each other. Together they raised three children, Bill, Jim (Rebecca), and Ellen (John) Franzini on the west side of Madison and he took pride in his role as a father. He ultimately saw his family expand to include six grandchildren; Emily (Steve Hamm) Koch, Brandon (Claire) Koch, Ella Koch, Susan Franzini, Paul Franzini and Michael Franzini, as well as two great-grandchildren, Madeline Hamm and Miles Koch.
Bob's Madison roots ran deep and he felt it was important to give back to the community which had served him so well. He shared his time and talent with many non-profit groups throughout the area. For 10 years he served on the Board of Governors at the Madison Community Foundation and was awarded Community Leadership Award and Community Asset Builder Awards from the Foundation.
Serving on the Board of Directors of Future Madison Corporation working to revitalize housing in depressed Madison neighborhoods and his role as Chairman for Very Special Arts-Wisconsin were two positions he held close to his heart. His positions as Chairman of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and as Board Member and 1980 Campaign Chair for the United Way of Dane County exemplified his commitment to this community.
He served on the Boards or Advisory groups of several other non-profit groups including the Attic Angel Association, Competitive Wisconsin, Humane Society of Dane County, Nehemiah Foundation, and Wisconsin Historical Society Foundation, among others. In 1996, Catholic Charities awarded Bob the organization's first Annual Community Leadership Award and in 1995 Bob was granted an Honorary Ph.D. degree from Edgewood College in Humanities for his work done for community betterment, a degree in which he took great pride.
Later in life, Bob took on one last community project becoming Honorary Chair for the Help Build Hope Campaign of the St. Vincent DePaul Society. He felt privileged to be part of this campaign and worked with determination to help create the new St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry & Service Center in Madison.
Bob's love for the University of Wisconsin ran deep and he stayed connected as a member of the Bascom Hill Society, Alumni Association, and was a charter member of the Board of Visitors for the UW-Madison School of Business. He became National Campaign Chair for the School of Business in 1987 and in 1990 he was granted the UW School of Business Dean's Award. In 1989 Bob received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a distinction he was very proud of.
Bob enjoyed many leisure-time activities throughout his life. He was an active member of Blackhawk Country Club and St. Thomas Aquinas Church. He enjoyed tennis and golf, was a horse-racing fan, and liked to travel. He was an optimist and a great friend to many, known widely as a true "people-person."
Bob led a positive and productive life, demonstrating leadership, humanitarianism, and grace throughout his ninety years. His genuine love for Madison, his family, friends and colleagues, will never be forgotten.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 AM on Thursday November 12, 2015 at ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 602 Everglade Dr. Madison with Fr. Bart Timmerman presiding. A visitation will be from 9:00 AM until the time of the Mass on Thursday at the church. A luncheon will be served immediately following the service. There will be a private burial at Resurrection Cemetery.
Any memorials may be directed to Attic Angels Association, 8301 Old Sauk Rd. Middleton, WI 53562 or St. Vincent DePaul Society, P.O. Box 259686, Madison, WI 53725-9686

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