Alma Pietsch

Alma Ella (Pietsch) Koch was 96 years of age. Born July 3,1917 to Clemens and Selma (Wunderlich) Pietsch of Wied, Alma had many fond, and some not so fond, memories of what it was like to grow up on a farm. She experienced a close-knit family life based on a healthy respect for family and friends and had a genuine love for God. From a young age, Alma learned to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. She loved to fish and looked for every opportunity to "wet her hook." She told how she and her dad would wake up at 2 in the morning, drive to the coast, make a pot of coffee on an open fire and wait for the sun to come up so they could start fishing. She told stories of the times she and her parents and a couple of siblings would pile into the Model T to go visit family members around the Fredericksburg area. She would get a smile on her face when she would tell that they would already make their first stop at a roadside park around Gonzales to build a fire and get the coffeepot on. In today's world, we would wonder why they didn't just have coffee before they left the house; however, in those days, they had probably been on the road for a good while and were taking advantage of a much-needed break. She very much looked forward to those visits with cousins. After Alma married Helmuth "Moody" Koch in 1939, they moved to the Galveston/Texas City/Houston area where they raised three children. For 20 years, Moody worked for Air Filter Supply Co. and Alma worked as Bakery Manager for the Weingartens Grocery chain. While in Houston, they were members of Park Place Lutheran Church. In 1977, they returned to Witting to spend their retirement years. There, they were members of Zion Lutheran Church. They enjoyed making several trips to Colorado and surrounding states with siblings in their motorhomes, and Alma even made more of those trips after Moody passed away in 1980. She elected to stay on in her home after Moody's death to take care of her acre of land and home until 2008, when her children persuaded her to move to Tyler, Texas to be closer to them. Before leaving Witting, Alma enjoyed quilting and joined other Zion Lutheran Church ladies in making quilts for Lutheran World Relief. She also enjoyed getting friends together for an afternoon of "88," refreshments and gab. She lived in two different retirement homes in Tyler and made many friends at both. She continued to look forward to playing Bingo and a good game of Bean Bag Baseball until she no longer had the energy to play. Alma leaves three children and their spouses, seven grandchildren and spouses, and fourteen great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and five siblings. One older sister, Laura Wells, still lives in Colorado. Before her passing, Alma had the opportunity to say her goodbyes by phone to her sister, Laura, and her cousin, Leona.
Visitation Friday, February 07, 2014

Family will receive friends Friday, February 07, 2014

Funeral Service Saturday, February 08, 2014