Thomas Lee Koch

Thomas Lee Koch went into his eternal sleep on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. He passed away comfortably at home in Oktaha, Oklahoma surrounded by his loving wife, family, and special friends.

Thomas was born on September 2, 1955, in Highland, Illinois. He is the son of Rose and Herman W. Koch and a brother to 11 siblings.

Thomas was born and raised on a farm in Belleville, IL with his 11 brothers and sisters. He was a devoted father to his children and a loving devoted husband to Summer Koch whom he married on March 11, 2013, in Giber Blue, MO. They then made their final home with their 2 young children, Brentley, and Molly in Oktaha, Oklahoma.

He went on to become an over the road truck driver. Driving his big truck was his first love, besides his family, his favorite truck was a red Peterbilt square nose. He found peace behind the wheel. He enjoyed being on the open road, seeing new places and meeting new people. He especially enjoyed those runs when his wife Summer would go with him. He loved being able to show her the world. Those were some of his most cherished memories. He was a trucker brother to many. His trucking family and friends called him the Bandit because of his favorite trucker movie, Smokey and the Bandit. As much as he loved being a truck driver, his most cherished and favorite job of all time was being a father. He loved his kids more than anything.

Thomas also enjoyed many other things, watching Wheel of Fortune with his “girlfriend” Hannah and his little buddy, Andy the Handy Man. He enjoyed going on weekend excursions to the casino with his family. He enjoyed watching Brentley and Molly having fun swimming in the big pool and relaxing in the hot tub. Then he and his wife would sneak off to hit the big jackpot. He loved life on the farm, spending time on the tractor with Brentley and Molly and teaching the life values of farming.

He enjoyed watching wrestling, from WWE to Smackdown to Japanese wrestling. He never missed a show. And then there was Reba, she was his movie star love. He would say, “I’d marry that women given half the chance”. His love for country music is something he shared with his wife Summer and loved dancing with her in the kitchen.

He is survived by his wife Summer Koch, son Brentley Koch, and daughter Molly Koch, all of the home in Oktaha, Oklahoma, daughter Traci Spencer and husband Drake of Mountainburg, AR, daughter Christina Tate and husband Rick of Glenpool, OK, son Thomas Koch Jr and wife Amanda of Siloam Springs, AR, Bridgette Chambers of Westville OK, Machelle Vaughn and husband George of Westville, OK, son William Smith of OR, daughter Tamara English of Siloam Springs, AR, sister Ann Morris, brother John Koch, brother Fred Koch, brother Harold Koch. Several grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and lots of friends.