Jerome Earl Koch, age 83, died peacefully on Thursday, June 30, 2011 at Select Specialty Hospital in Madison . Jerry was born in Chippewa Falls , Wisconsin on May 1, 1928, the son of Fred J. and Amanda (Dahl) Koch. Jerry was raised in Eau Claire and graduated from high school in 1945. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy completing his basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center , North Chicago , Illinois . After basic training, Jerry was stationed as a corpsman at the naval base at Oakland , California . After his discharge in 1948, Jerry attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison , completing two years. Jerry worked at various jobs for a couple of years until becoming a meat cutter at Oscar Mayer Company at Madison . During the 1970's, Jerry attended two years of night school in accounting. This enabled him to transfer to an inventory job at Oscar Mayer, where he worked until he retired in the mid 1980's, Jerome met the love of his life Patricia Ann Lantzky, in Madison . They were united in marriage on August 25, 1951 in Dubuque , Iowa . Their only child, Michael Jerome Koch, was born on November 28, 1952. Jerome loved to travel with his family. He visited many countries. Jerry was an avid Badger football and basketball fan and along with his wife, was a member of the Wisconsin Badger Booster Club. Jerry also liked the Green Bay Packers. Other interests were golf, fishing and hunting. Jerome is survived by his son, Michael, of Coweta , Oklahoma and a grandson, Aaron Wayne Koch of Frisco , Texas . He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and brother, Donald. His service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at Cress Funeral Service, 3610 Speedway Road , Madison . Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be held at Resurrection Cemetery.