Obituary of Donald Lee Kocher

Donald L. Kocher, 96, of Washington, New Jersey passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, while at the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice Home.

Donald was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin to the late Louraine and Charles Kocher. He grew up on Cornish Street in Washington, NJ. Donald is predeceased by his beloved wife, Fannie, of 69 years, and his brothers,Charles Kocher, Robert Kocher, and Lowell Kocher.

Donald enlisted in the United States Army and served as Private First Class from 1947-1951. While stationed in Alaska Donald met and married the love of his life, the late Fannie Christiansen Kocher. Donald and Fannie built their life and home in Butler Park area of NJ. Here they had four children together Gail, Donald, Marvin and Randall.

Donald and his wife, Fannie, drove to and from Alaska almost 60 times to visit family and to fish!

As a young man, Don was a "Gandy Dancer" for the railroad. He was a carpenter and later a Teamster, taking part in the making of Route 78, Route 287, Spruce Run Reservoir and Merril Creek. Donald was interested in the American Civil War. With his wife, son-in-law, Bob DeRemer, and son, Marvin, grandsons, Marvin and Alec, Don was a certified gunman with the Battery B Artillery reenactors.

Donald will be forever remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather. He will be forever missed by his daughter, Gail DeRemer and her spouse, Robert; son, Donald and his spouse Candelaria; son, Marvin and his spouse Shirley; son, Randall and his spouse Beth; sister, Joyce Rupell and her spouse Jay. He will be forever loved by his grandchildren; Heather, Melanie & George, Marvin & Caitlyn, Alec, and Lily; great-grandchildren, Gianna, Benjamin & Geonna, Mabel, Esther, Evelyn and Jacob; great-great-granddaughter, Brielle, and by his beloved dog Foxy.

"Take the car Dad!" "Dad, are you hungry? Do you want to go out to eat?" We will always cherish those special times we shared together Dad.

Services will be held privately under the direction of Knoll-DeVoe Funeral Home & Cremation Service, with an inurnment to take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.