Raymond Arthur Koch, 85, of Colfax Township, passed away on September 23, 2016 at Huron Medical Center.

He was born at home on March 13, 1931, to the late Ernest and Erna (Riess) Koch, where he lived on the family farm in Auburn, Michigan, until joining the Armed Forces. Ray served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Japan from October 1951 to October 1955, where he was a mechanic working on the C-124 Globemaster II heavy-lift cargo planes.

On April 30, 1960, he married Sharon C. Sampier at the Beaver Zion Lutheran Church in Auburn. He and Sharon moved to Bad Axe where they built their own home and raised their family in Colfax Township.

Ray worked at CKS Tool & Engineering in Bad Axe as a co-owner/manager. He was involved in the Lions Club for many years and was very involved at his church, Our Savior Lutheran, in Bad Axe. Ray loved spending time with his family, helping them with home repairs, going on camping trips on Lake Superior, and relaxing in his backyard watching the birds and wildlife.

Raymond is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sharon of Bad Axe; daughters: Renee (Dennis) Bergman of Ortonville, Dianne (Brad) Green of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Rayelene (Joseph) Umstead of Warren; grandchildren: Krista (Justin) Hughes, Nicole Bergman, Samantha Green and Mallory Green; sister, Margaret Barber of Auburn; sisters-in-law: Kathleen Stephenson, Ellen Koch, Vel Koch, and Gail Sampier; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brothers and sister-in-law: Roland and Loris Koch, Norbert Koch and Donald Koch; and brothers-in-law: Gary Sampier, Malcolm Stephenson, and Walter Barber.

Funeral service will be 11 am on Wednesday, September 28th at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bad Axe with Rev. Kenneth Lueke officiating. Burial will be at Floral Gardens Cemetery in Bay City.

Visitation will be 2 to 8 pm on Tuesday, September 27th at MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe and at the church on Wednesday from 10 am until time of service.

Memorials may be offered to Our Savior Lutheran Church, National Kidney Foundation of Michigan or to the Food for the Poor Organization (http://www.foodforthepoor.org).

Condolences can be shared at www.macalpinefuneralhome.com.