For those of you unable to attend in person, a short memorial service will be available to see on Zoom at 5pm.
Shannon Derby is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Andrew Koch Memorial
Time: Jun 27, 2021 05:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
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Passcode: 562404
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Life was too short for Andrew: a great father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin & friend. With great sorrow, we need to announce his passing after a long struggle with a horrible disease. He was on the path to recovery but lost the battle on June 22nd. We have comfort knowing that he is now walking with the Lord & his struggle is over.
Andrew lived an incredible life, full of so many wonderful memories with many different people. He was a talented Master mechanic and worked at Flatirons Subaru for many years. He made sure he put his best foot forward. He was ready, willing and able to help anyone at any time.
He always loved to have fun. He would pick on others just to make them laugh and then start laughing so hard himself that the whole room would erupt with laughter. It was always amazing to watch him be the wildest dancer on the dance floor. He would strike up friendly conversations everywhere he went, befriending all strangers young and old.
His daughter Kalista was his greatest love. He taught her manners and the hula hoop. They shared a love for puzzles and corn dogs. He took her to museums and swimming at the rec center. She had a hard time going to bed without him singing, “You are My Sunshine”. She was his all-around best friend.
Andrew battled for years with alcohol and burnt bridges with friends and family along the way. He wanted to be free from this so badly, he even moved away from his friends and family to his sister’s house in Indiana to try and get help. He thought that he would be strong enough to quit by himself and did not want to commit to a lengthy program. Although we saw times of great strength, improvement and determination, it just was not enough. He needed to be in a place where he had professional guidance to learn how to live in a sober world. He then moved to his dad’s where they were able to strengthen their relationship. He was doing well until he got a job and somebody offered him some alcohol. Then he slipped again. His mom moved out to Indiana for a couple months to try to help him get back on track, mostly he did well but temptation got the best of him when he was alone….but nobody’s perfect. He was excited to move back to Colorado to start over and specially to see his daughter. His disease got in the way of that as well. But he never stopped loving her not even for a second! She was the reason he tried as hard as he did. More recently, he had many friends and family fighting to help him. But it was hard for him to see the light at the end of the tunnel, he got extremely weak, and it was impossible to monitor him 24 hours a day. He realized it was necessary for him to go into a program and he even initiated that by himself. He also committed to attending a 9-month Christian residential program and was extremely excited to finally be free from the disgusting addiction that has trapped him for so long. Unfortunately, he did not make it past the detox stage.
Although this may seem like the worst ending to so many, he is finally free. He asked the Lord into his heart when he was living in Indiana and would often go around praying for every family member. He loved praying over the meals and would often pray for so long that the rest of us would look up and smile and then close our eyes again. His heart was unbelievably big and beautiful. Always has been and always will be. Now he is free! Andrew no longer must battle, no longer has to live in shame or sorrow or fear or pain or any other negative emotion. He gets to be his beautiful wholehearted, joyful, compassionate, incredible self that the Lord created him to be.
If he could say anything to his friends and family it would be to encourage those trapped in addiction to “get help”. It is OK to try and be strong enough to get clean alone but to surround yourself with those that love you and are going to call you to be the best you that you could ever be. Step away from those that are toxic and check into a program if that is what you need. For those who have a friend or loved one that may be struggling, don’t ignore it and don’t feed into it. Call it what it is, a trap. Do not assume they can stop on their own, because many can’t. But please stop living your life for your pleasurable fixes that are stealing the lives of everyone we love and only numbing you for the moment. Sober up my friends! Life is far too beautiful to waste it on something so deceitful.
Andrew was proceeded in death by all his grandparents and his uncles Raymond, Dean, and Rick.
His remaining family includes his beautiful daughter Kalista, mom Jay, dad Dale, sister Dana, brother-in-law Jake, nephew Ezra, nieces Mattea and Magnolia, Aunt Grace, Uncle Ed, cousins Bre & Tyler, Uncle Glenn, Aunt Karen, cousins Scott and Kerri, Aunt Cindy, cousins Chad, Craig, Mindy & Josh, Uncle Ron, cousins Amy & Anthony, Aunt Carla, cousins Jadah, Jessica, Brent and Brittany, Aunt June, cousin Jamie
Memorial service Sunday 6/27 from 4:00-7:00. Boulder Broker Inn 555 30th Street (upstairs) Bring memories, hugs & a dish to share. No alcohol.