The Superior Express -

Colton Alan Koch died Feb. 7, 2022 in Mankato. He was born Aug. 27, 1994, to Michelle Hammer and Kevin Koch.

Colton was an energetic child, sometimes even a little mischievous. Colton visited many summers during his early years at his grandparents' farm and later attended elementary school in Hutchinson. In 2009, Colton traveled a path that brought him to the home of Bob and Linda Gibson in Kensington.

Colton graduated from Thunder Ridge High School in 2013. He worked several jobs during his high school years, but one of his favorites was working for Levin Farms. He was so proud of his work that he had to have a senior picture taken in front of a cornfield he had planted.

In 2014, Colton became a father with the birth of his daughter, Carmen. In 2017, Colton met the love of his life, Kristen Clark. On July 4, 2018, they became engaged and began to build their life together in Topeka. They later moved to Mankato. They added their daughter, Karter, in 2019 and their son, Colton II in 2021to their growing family.

Besides work, he enjoyed cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas University Jayhawks, rebuilding cars and collecting guns. Colton worked a variety of jobs, before he took a keen interest in law enforcement and wanted to follow in the footsteps of his dad, Bob. Colton joined the Jewell County Sheriff's Department in December of 2019 and graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in August of 2020.

Colton is survived by his fiancee, Kristen, of the home; three children: Carmen, Karter and Colton II; parents: Michelle and John Whitehead of Satanta, Leon Kevin Koch of Hutchinson, and Bob and Linda Gibson of Kensington; two sisters, Nicole Coates of Manhattan and Malorie Gibson of Jacksonville, Fla .; six brothers; Robbie Gibson of Cozad, Neb., Tyler Morrish of Kensington, Jordan Kirk of Jacksonville, Fla., Drew Kirk of Southern California, Kris (Megan) Whitehead of Joplin, Mo., and Cody (Paige) Whitehead of Joplin, Mo .; grandparents, Ruth and Chris Hammer of Sublette and Reta Griffin of Phillipsburg; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and too many friends to count.

He is preceded in death by a brother, JT Coates; grandparents, Mary Delavan, Elvin Lambert, Fredrick and Shirley Koch; and great-grandparents, Robert and Betty Hammer, Fred and Marge Wachs; and an uncle, Steven Gibson.

His funeral was held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 15, at the First St, John's Lutheran Church in Kensington with Pastor Dave Hutson presiding. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Colton Koch Memorial Fund. and may be sent to: Kristen Clark - %Bob and Linda Gibson - 520 S Kansas - Kensington, Kan. 66951.Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at http://www.swaim funeralhome.com.