Billie J. Koch

Billie J. Koch (nee Yeager) of Saint Louis County passed away on Friday, May 10, 2024after a 4-year battle with cancer.  Billie was married to Bob Koch for 44 years and they share two children – Kristin (Greg) Newkirk of Riverside California and Matthew Koch (Sabrina Canada) of Saint Louis.  Billie was preceded in death by her parents, Cletis and Illeana Yeager of Harristown, IL.   Billie is survived by her husband and children, her brothers Steve and Bob (Mary) Yeager, her sister Paula (Tom) Birch all of Decatur, IL and her four adored grandchildren – Julian, Owen, Cora and Eliza Newkirk of Riverside who were the joys of her life and to whom she was known as “Gram B”.  She also leaves many cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends throughout the country.

Billie graduated from Niantic-Harristown HS in 1970 as the Valedictorian of her class.  She continued to Illinois State University to graduate with Honors in Education with certification in elementary, special education, and emotionally / mentally handicapped education.  She was a teacher in the Lincoln, Il and Riverton, IL school districts until 1982 when she moved with Bob to Pittsburgh, PA.  She taught in the Wilkinsburg school district and later in the Westmoreland County Special School District, where she was the first teacher state certified to teach English as a second language to elementary school age students.  Since the family made many moves, she also taught handicapped students in the Hunterdon Valley school district in NJ and served as a parent support volunteer in school districts in Tennessee and South Carolina, before finally settling in the Saint Louis area.,

In addition to being active in her children’s schooling, Billie was also active in her church and community and participated in New Neighbors of Greensburg, PA, United Methodist Women circles and Cooperative Groups at Concord Trinity United Methodist Church in South St. Louis County.  Billie was an active athletic woman and enjoyed skiing, racquetball, softball, and especially golf and pickleball with her friends and family.  She was an active member of the Wednesday Swingers Ladies Golf group and thoroughly enjoyed playing golf and having lunch after with her friends.

She was so proud of her children and what they have accomplished in their lives, their unlimited promise for the future and of her grandchildren as they have grown into young people who love each other and their family.  She liked to make personal and creative gifts for her children, grandchildren, and friends to celebrate their special events and accomplishments in life, always giving them the credit.  Her love for them knew no bounds!  Billie could be found in the background, away from the spotlight, working her caring and magical ways to support those she loved. Her poetic style in Christmas letters was legendary.

Billie cared about her friends, her children and family, she loved birds and butterflies and flowers.     The family asks that in lieu of flowers you donate to the Memorial Gifts Fund of Concord Trinity United Methodist Church, 5275 South Lindbergh Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63126, The Missouri Botanical Gardens, or St. Jude’s Research Hospital in her name.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM at Concord Trinity United Methodist Church on Thursday, June 20, 2024, to celebrate her life.  There will be refreshments afterward in Trinity Hall of the church.