- Date Of Birth: October 25, 1935
- Date Of Death: July 13, 2020
- State: Illinois
Mrs. Koch was born on October 25, 1935 in Decatur to B.B. and Helen (Ramsey) Burgess. Barb served for many years as Executive Director of the Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development until her retirement and was instrumental in bringing a number of new businesses to the Illinois Valley. She was integral in creating the LaSalle Schools Excellence Foundation. Barb loved to travel and was lovingly known as one the “three mamas” at her favorite vacation spot in Cancun. She traveled internationally quite a bit and always wanted American breakfast wherever she was. She also enjoyed reading and tending to her plants and flowers.
She is survived by her three daughters, Brenda (Michael) Crawford of LaSalle, Lori (William) Ridder of Villa Park and Shari (Alan) Thacker of Northbrook; one son, Brian Koch of Atlanta as well as her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and several nieces and one nephew.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and her sister, Edith Pride.
