Barry Steven Koch

Funeral services for Barry Koch, will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 6, 2014 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church with Kenna Rose officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 5, 2014 at Gillette Memorial Chapel. Barry Steven Koch, age 43, of Gillette, Wyoming died on Saturday, May 31, 2014 doing what he loved. He died riding his Harley Davidson on Hwy 14 on the way to Moorcroft, WY. Barry Steven was born on October 1, 1970 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the son of Richard and Patricia (Anderson) Koch. In the fall of 1974 he moved with older brother Tony and parents to Gillette, WY. He attended Hillcrest Elementary School, Twin Spruce Junior High and Campbell County High School where he graduated in 1989. On January 27, 1989 he and Kathy Singleton welcomed the birth of their daughter Veronica Marie Koch. Shortly after, he started his college career at the University of Wyoming in fall of 1989. He transferred to Montana Tech in Butte, MT in 1990 where he played linebacker for the Ore Diggers. Barry and Nancy Sainsbury had daughter, Devan LeRae in November 1991. The next summer they married in August 1992. He and Nancy had two more children together; Steven Anthony and Clayton Raymond. The couple later divorced. He graduated with his Bachelors of Science Degree in Mining Engineering from Montana Tech, Butte, MT, in 1993. He took his first engineering job at FMC in Kemmerer, WY from 1994-1999. In 2000, he continued his engineering career with Monsanto in Soda Springs, Idaho where he worked until 2011. During his time with Monsanto, he worked on his MBA (Masters in Business of Administration) from the University of Utah and graduated in 2003. In January 2012, Barry finally came back to Gillette so he could be closer to his children. He worked for Uranium One out of Casper, WY as the Mine Manager. Barry strived to learn all that he could about his craft of Mining Engineering. He was truly a life-long learner and was always looking for his next academic challenge. Barry was a loving Father and a proud new Grandpa. Touring the open road on his motorcycles was one of his passions. He enjoyed hunting each fall and wanted to be an avid fisherman, but always said he couldn't sit still long enough. He loved attending heavy metal concerts around the country; he most recently saw Guns-N-Roses in Las Vegas. He traveled every opportunity he had. Watching his beloved Oakland Raiders play is something he looked forward to every football season. Most importantly, he was ecstatic to be back in Gillette where he could be closer to his children. Barry was also reunited with many of his long-time friends and the rest of his family. He anticipated every weekend that he could travel to South Dakota to watch their sporting events. Barry never met anyone that he couldn't call a friend. He loved the 80's with the "big hair" bands and mullets. It took us years to get him to cut his mullet. Barry's Motto: IT WAS ALWAYS BUSINESS IN THE FRONT AND PARTY IN THE BACK. And that's the way he lived his life. Barry is survived by his daughters, Veronica Koch, 25, of Gillette, WY; Devan Koch, 23, of Dickenson, ND; sons, Steven Koch, 18, and Clayton Koch, 16, of Buffalo, SD; granddaughter Mia Bronson, 1, of Gillette, WY; parents Richard Koch and Patricia & Gene Bertch of Gillette, WY; brother, Anthony (Lori) Koch, sisters, Camron (Vince) Davis and Nicole (Tony) Merchen all of Gillette, WY; Nephews, Brandon Koch, Morgan Merchen and Baiden Luderman; maternal grandmother, Helen Rackerby of Brookings, SD and many other family members and friends; special friend Emily Yeager of Salt Lake City, Utah. Barry is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Harvey and Martha Koch; maternal grandmother, Hazel Hughes, grandfather, Phillip Anderson and uncle, Barry Anderson. Barry Koch Memorial Fund at First National Bank PO Box 3002 Gillette, WY has been set up for his children and granddaughter. Condolences may be sent in Barry's name in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming. . Condolences may also be sent via our website at www.gillettememorialchapel.comFuneral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716