Richard R. Koeck

Richard R. “Dick” Koeck, age 99, of Erie, passed away on Thursday, September 12, 2024 at Springhill Retirement Community, ten days short of his 100th birthday.

Born on September 22, 1924, he was a son of the late Joseph and Regina Schemmel Koeck. 

Dick graduated from Strong Vincent High School in June 1942. He then attended Penn State College where he was a member of Triangle Fraternity, a national Fraternity of Engineers. One year later, he was inducted into the Army. After eight weeks of basic training at Fort Knox in Kentucky, he volunteered for the newly formed Tenth Mountain Division at Camp Hale, Colorado. After extensive training in skiing, rock climbing and mountain warfare, the division was sent to Camp Swift, Texas for training in flat-land warfare. The division was then shipped overseas to Italy, where on February 19, 1945, after a bold night climb on German positions, they drove the enemy from the Apennine Mountains into the Po Valley and then finally to the Northern Italian Alps, ending the war in Italy on May 2, 1945. Dick received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for Heroic Achievement.

After being honorably discharged in November of 1945, he returned to Penn State, where he met the love of his life, Susan McClelland, whom he married on August 19, 1950. His children were a big part of his life—long hikes, campfires in the back yard, summers at the Peninsula— and he always provided steady guidance and help through life’s various problems.

He worked at Hammermill Paper Company, retiring after 40 years as a Senior Project Engineer. After retirement, traveling in their 32 foot Winnebago Motor Home, he and Sue drove throughout the USA, including many Tenth Mountain Division Reunions and renewing friendships that lasted a lifetime.

Being an avid Penn State Football fan was a part of Dick that never changed after moving to the Springhill Retirement Community. He loved getting Penn State Fans together to watch games on TV and was always full of information about the team’s recruits and games. He and Sue have both enjoyed their years at Springhill—the friendships, the active lifestyle and the care and concern of the entire staff. Life was good!! Dick was a life member of the Erie Maennerchor and Siebenbuerger Clubs and a long-time member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.

Besides his parents, Dick was preceeded in death by three sisters, Elsie Koeck Franz (Emeran), Regina Koeck Whiting (Harold), and Minnie Koeck Nevel (Robert); and his brother, Joseph Koeck (Irene).

He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Susan McClelland Koeck; Daughter Christine of Erie; son Roger of Dublin, OH; nephews Joseph Koeck and John Koeck; a niece Donna Standley (Allen); grandniece Kathy Richardson (John); and grandnephews, Donald Standley and Jim Standley

Friends may call at Burton Quinn-Scott Funeral Home, West Ridge, 3801 W. 26th St., at Powell Ave., Erie, PA 16506 on Monday, September 16th from 2 until 4 pm and 6 until 8 pm, and are invited to attend a service there on Tuesday at 10 AM with Pastor Ron Freebourn officiating. Military Honors to follow. Private Inurnment will take place at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church 3968 Hershey Road, Erie, PA 16506, or the Asbury Foundation Springhill Benevolent Care Fund 2323 Edinboro Rd. Erie, PA 16509.