Romelle Koch passed away peacefully at home in Whitewater, WI on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at the age of 87.
Romelle was the oldest child of Romeyn and Evelyn (Dietz) Schweitzer. She married Caroll Koch on August 1, 1959. Caroll died on May 16, 2008.
While attending Wisconsin State Teachers College (now UW-Whitewater), Romelle edited the Student Handbook. After graduation, she taught business subjects at the Milwaukee Vocational School. After her marriage, she moved to Whitewater and worked in various offices at the university for 14 years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. While working at the university, she typed the algebra textbook that was used in the mathematics department for several years.
After her youngest child entered junior high, Romelle went to work at St. Patrick Catholic Church as the Religious Education Secretary for several years and the weekly bulletin editor for over 25 years, retiring in 2010.
Romelle was an active member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, its women’s society, a charter member of the Whitewater Sno-Seekers Snowmobile Club, secretary of the Lauderdale Snow Drifters Snowmobile Club, a girl scout leader, secretary of Boy Scout Troop 102, general leader and project leader for the Whitewater 4-H club, project leader for the LaGrange 4-H club, member of the Walworth 4-H Senior leaders, County 4-H awards committee, and a member of the Theta Sigma Upsilon and Alpha Gamma Delta Sororities. For many years, she organized the Theta Sigma Upsilon annual spring alumni luncheon, and kept the alumni membership records up to date.
During her retirement, Romelle enjoyed spending time with her daughters, playing all kinds of cards, especially bridge, going out to eat with friends, putting together jigsaw puzzles, reading, doing counted cross stitch, sewing and doing volunteer work, including typing the local senior center monthly newsletter.
Romelle is survived by three daughters, Kandace Koch, Karis Koch, and Julie (Andy) Jaeckel, two brothers, Dan (Cathy) Schweitzer and Tedd (Bridget Caitlin) Schweitzer, and nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sons, infant Jack Richard and Jeremy (Jere), sister, Ruth Ann Acker, brothers-in-law, Kenneth Acker, Herman Koch, Raymond Koch, Harry Plucinski Jr., Edward Schlorb, David Congdon, and sisters-in-law, Beatrice Schlorb, Lila Koch, and Hazel Congdon.
Memorial Services for Romelle will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Whitewater. Visitation will take place at 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.
