LAMPa gives thanks for the life and witness of Policy Council member, friend, and dedicated advocate, Terry Koch, who died Aug. 7.

Koch’s faith was palpable to those who know him and witnessed his ministry.  Allegheny Synod Bishop Kevin Shock, who served as assistant to Bishop Paula Lebo when she appointed Koch to serve with LAMPa in 2024, said of his nomination, “Terry brings the experience from a career in the public school system, both as teacher and counselor. His life and ministry reflect a passion for healthcare advocacy, LGBTQIA+ community advocacy, and feeding and clothing people in need. This passion comes from his own experiences and the experiences of his neighbors, whom he is called to love through his living faith in Jesus Christ.”

A lifelong Lutheran and resident of Altoona, Koch served his congregational community as technology coordinator, church treasurer, and by coordinating and cooking for their monthly meal giveaways. He also helped with the clothing and shoe ministry each month in addition to serving the synod in various capacities.

Koch was a retired public-school teacher who taught for more than 20 years before becoming a school counselor. He brought to his advocacy role personal experience of the ways in which our lives and health can suddenly be thrown into uncertainty.

“My career ended suddenly when I went into kidney failure,” Koch said as he explained his passion for his new role in advocacy. “I did dialysis for about five years, then received a kidney transplant in October 2020. Every time that I walked in the dialysis clinic, I would repeat to myself Philippians 4:13,” he said, holding onto that reminder that Paul gives us – “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

“Terry was almost always among the first to act on an alert or to raise his hand to volunteer for a task, no matter how small,” said LAMPA Director Tracey DePasquale.  “He felt he had been given a second chance, and he was making the most of that chance to serve Christ and his neighbor. He faced uncertainty in his prognosis with such grace and assurance of God’s loving presence in every part of life.”

Koch especially embraced serving with LAMPa to advance policies related to feeding and clothing the homeless and hungry, lack of affordable housing, equal opportunities for all, and LGBTQ issues and acceptance by church members.

“I live by the words of Jesus when he said the greatest commandment is to ‘love God and love others.’ (Matthew 22:37-40, paraphrased),” Koch said.  “Jesus didn’t put any conditions on those words, so neither should we humans.”

Obituary for Terrence L. “Terry” Koch.