A Celebration of Life service to honor the life and legacy of Janet K. Koch, age 72, of Windom, will be held at LaCanne Family Celebration of Life Center in Windom on Friday, December 12th at 2:00 PM with a time of visitation and gathering from 1:00-2:00 PM. Burial will follow at Lakeview Cemetery in Windom, MN.

Janet Kay (Sievert) Koch was born May 4, 1953, to John and Gene (Welch) Sievert in Heron Lake, Minnesota. She grew up in Okabena, Minnesota and was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Okabena. She graduated from Okabena High School in the class of 1971.

On May 1, 1971, Janet was united in marriage to Morris James Koch at St. John's Lutheran Church of Okabena. Janet then joined her husband at his naval base in Long Beach, CA. This is where their first child, Aron, was born. Once Morris completed his military service, they moved to Windom, Minnesota and shortly after welcomed Debbie, their second child. Janet worked briefly at Toro. In 1974, Janet and Morris moved to Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. Morris died tragically in a car accident in August 1977. Janet and her children remained in Sleepy Eye until 1981. Janet worked at a hardware store and at the Orchid Inn. Janet and her children then moved to Madelia, Minnesota where Janet worked at Tony Downs Foods as a line lead for two years.

In 1985, Janet and her family relocated to Mankato, Minnesota, where she lived until 1995 and worked for Lindsay Sash, Inc. and Taylor Corporation. Janet returned to Windom in 1995, where she lived until her passing. During her years in Windom, she worked at the Highway 60 Truck Stop. Janet's kindness was evident in her volunteer work with Meals on Wheels, as well as assisting with meal preparation and serving for the Senior Dining program at the Windom Community Center for over a decade.

Janet found joy in being of service to others, and she held several positions in her local A.A. Chapter. During her 36 years of sobriety, she took pride in sponsoring dozens of women. She had experienced firsthand a great deal of loss and difficult times, and she wanted to help others find their way out of the of the darkness and become the person God intended them to be. Her peers described her as compassionate, gentle, resilient and unconditional.

Janet had a very magnetic personality. She loved her children and family fiercely and jumped at any chance to spend time with her children, grandchildren, siblings, cousins, and friends. You could count on Janet to show up for all family holidays, birthday parties, graduations, anniversaries and baby showers, which gave her purpose and brought her great joy. She always arrived with that bright big smile and hugs that were unrivaled. Janet possessed an incredible gift of listening and always left you feeling heard and understood. She simply loved to love.

Her hobbies included arranging silk flowers, and she was hired to do dozens of weddings. She also loved to dance, cook, collect recipes, and draw. Janet loved to laugh and she told some epic jokes. Adventure and nature tugged at her heartstrings. She enjoyed her pets, especially her dog, Maynard and her cats, Puff and Sneezy, who were part of the family for 18 years.

Janet's dash may not have been as long as some and was limited after age 60, due to health issues, but her life was rich with love, laughter and life lessons. She passed away peacefully, with her son and daughter each holding her hand, while her grandson, James, and her son-in-law whispered words of love and comfort as she left this earthly world on Sunday, November 30, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Society-Sogge Memorial in Windom.

Left to cherish her beloved memory are her children, Aron Koch and Debbie Luebben Koch (Kevin Luebben); grandchildren, James Erickson (Chloe Shamp), Liberty and Trinity Koch, and Jake and Ali Luebben; siblings, Jerrie Hall and Joyce (Kip) Post; sister-in-law, Judy Sievert; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Laura McGuire, Ted (June) Koch, Char (Kirby) Kruse, Richard (Brenda) Koch, and Ronda Koch; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Morris Koch; parents John and Gene Sievert; siblings, Judy Sievert, Doc Sievert and Jane Caviness; parents-in-law, John and Marge Koch; and brothers-in-law, Walter Koch, Douglas Koch, and Brian McGuire.