Karl Couch
June 16, 1924 — February 22, 2015
Karl E. Couch, age 90 years of Niles, Michigan died at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2015 at his home following an extended illness.
He was born on June 16, 1924 in Niles to William John and Marian Marie (Morse) Couch. He graduated from Chesterton (Indiana) High School and enlisted in the United States Navy, from which he was later honorably discharged as a veteran of World War II. He returned to Niles and began a career as a tool & die maker at Modineer, then worked at R&M and Bendix before retiring from National-Standard.
Karl was member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles. He was very active in Freemasonry as a member of the Saint Joseph Valley Lodge #4, F.&A.M., Niles Chapter #322, Order of the Eastern Star, and the Saladin Shriners of Grand Rapids. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was a member of the Bend of the River Conservation Club. He also enjoyed woodworking in his home shop, and gardening. He volunteered his time and efforts to establish the Howard Branch of the Cass District Library.
On August 27, 1943 in Elkton, Maryland he married the former Lillian Mae Jones with whom he celebrated last year the remarkable Seventy-first anniversary of their wedding.
Karl is survived by his wife, Lillian Couch and their children, Marian (& Vernon) Lang of Weare, New Hampshire and Richard (& Dixie) Couch of Niles; grandchildren Kendra Lang, Megan (& Daniel) Minns, David Couch, and Kenneth (& Stephanie) Couch; great-grandchildren Ethan Couch, Aubrey Couch, Madeline Minns, Daniel Minns, and Robert Lang; and Karl’s sister, Doreen Miller of Chesterton, Indiana.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and by a brother, Ted Couch and sister, Bonnie Goehring.
The funeral service for Karl Couch will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 27, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating. Interment will follow at Mission Hills.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Masonic Rites at 6:30 p.m. Contributions in memory of Karl may be made to the Howard Branch of the Cass District Library.