Brian R. Koch

Brian Richard Koch passed away suddenly Wednesday, April 15, 2026. He was the son of Richard and Virginia (DePaul) Koch and is survived by his wife Karen; sons Richard (Beth Shaw) and Brent (Miranda Diesz); daughter Kendall (Joshua Cercone); sister Carol Schenck and partner Eric Lauck; Aunt Mary Jane Koch; sister and brother-in-law Rebecca and Richard Toomey; grandchildren Ronan, Rosalind and Luca, and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.

Born April 28, 1960, Brian was raised in Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake Village. In high school, he played tenor saxophone in the Cuyahoga Falls Tiger Marching Band.

He earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Akron, where he worked as a student assistant at the Physical Facilities Plant. After graduation, he began his career at Goodyear Aerospace working on the F-15 flight simulator program, traveling to Air Force Bases worldwide to install equipment for pilot training. He later worked for Loral and Lockheed Martin, often joking he “worked for three different companies without ever changing desks.”

Most recently, Brian was a manager in the Process Development Center at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. His work involved developing NASCAR racing tires, passenger tires, and more efficient production equipment. He was awarded over 15 patents for innovations in tire manufacturing.

Brian’s career took him around the world—to Japan, Saudi Arabia, Luxembourg, Australia, Germany, Poland, China, South Africa, and across the U.S. From 1999–2001, the family lived in Luxembourg during a Goodyear assignment, traveling widely through Europe. He twice helped rebuild a chemical plant in Beaumont, Texas after hurricanes, and later oversaw construction of a Goodyear Proving Ground in San Angelo, Texas.

From childhood, Brian showed a knack for taking things apart and putting them back together encouraged by his father, also an electrical engineer. As a teen, he built an early “boombox” inside a briefcase which he took with him to social events. As a Life Scout, he enjoyed camping, sailing, and summers at the Krehl dairy farm in Indiana, helping with cutting hay, milking, and tractors. He also worked at McDonald’s with his two sisters.

Brian met Karen at a Valentine’s party in 1981 and they married in 1984. As their family grew, he enjoyed church softball, little league coaching, cooking, boating, hunting, and skeet shooting. Later in life, Brian became a certified FAA drone pilot, enjoyed photography, birding, hiking, and especially recreating Italian dishes from his childhood.

Brian was quick-witted, loyal, and caring—a devoted husband, proud father, and doting grandfather. He was happiest helping others. Loved deeply by his family, he will be greatly missed, and his memory cherished.

A gathering of friends will be held on Friday, April 24th from 5-7 p.m. at the Arnold Funeral Home, 504 West Maple Street, Hartville, Ohio, 44632.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, April 26th at 1:00 p.m. at United Methodist Church in Uniontown, 13370 Cleveland Ave NW, Uniontown, OH 44685.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Greater Akron Audubon Society.