Steven L. Koch

STEVEN L. KOCH of Fort Wayne passed away peacefully in the arms of his loving wife at home on Wednesday morning, April 25th, 2012, after a four-week insidious battle with small long cancer. The swift nature of the disease was overwhelming to both Steve and Dianne, as it has been for friends and family. Steve was the owner and president of Certified Burglar and Fire Alarm Systems, which was begun by his father Sylvester in 1925 and which continued to grow under his mother Evelyn's direction after his father's death while Steve was in his teens. Evelyn insisted on a strong education and a diverse background for her son until he could join her in running the family business. She also preceded him in death. It is his wife's personal goal to continue the family tradition and business ethics of Certified Alarm despite the loss of her best friend and business partner. Steven graduated from Zion Elementary, Concordia Lutheran High School, International Business College and Purdue University ultimately earning a degree in electrical engineering. When Evelyn finally allowed Steve to join Certified, he began as an installer and service technician before advancing to sales many years later. Although he was shy about wearing a coat and tie and going on cold sales to meet potential customers, he was never reticent about explaining the merits of the Certified Burglar & Fire Alarm System and the personal guarantee behind it. When he eventually moved from technician to full-time salesman, his greatest surprise was the accomplishment of doubling the company's accounts in just a few years. Although the business community knows him as Steve Koch, his closest friends and acquaintances know him as "Killer". Just about everyone claims to know how he earned that nickname but now only two people do - and one is not his wife. Despite that his alias will live on, everyone will surely most remember the depth of his character, his integrity, and his loyalty to everyone in his life. He is survived by his wife of almost twenty years, Dianne (Boknecht), father and mother-in-law, Ed and Dorothy Boknecht, several cousins, the employees at Certified Alarm and numerous friends and colleagues. Funeral Service will be at 11:00 AM Monday, April 30, 2012 at Zion Lutheran Church, 2313 S. Hanna St. with visitation 1 hour prior. Friends are also welcome to a commemoration of Steven's life, Sunday, April 29, 2012 from 2 - 8 PM at Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home, 6131 St. Joe Rd., casual dress and bright colors are encouraged. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home or the donor's favorite charity.