Dennis R. Koats

Dennis R. Koats, age 81, of Neshkoro, passed away on Friday, October 12, 2018, at his home.  He was born on January 9, 1937, at home to Richard F. and Lila (Philbrick) Koats in Neshkoro, WI.  Dennis graduated from the Neshkoro Grade School and was confirmed at the Zion Lutheran Church of Neshkoro.  Growing up in Neshkoro, he did lots of fishing on the Millpond.   Dennis enjoyed sports, playing baseball, basketball and running track.  He graduated from Westfield High School in 1954.  After high school, Dennis worked for Soil Conservation in Montello, Kohler Company in Kohler, WI, and the DNR Forest Protection Service out of Wautoma and Necedah fighting forest fires.  He attended the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point for one year, studying conservation. 

Dennis met his wife, Barbara, in a snowball fight (she won).  They married on October 22, 1960, at St. James Catholic Church in Neshkoro on the opening day of pheasant hunting.   Dennis began working at the Berlin Foundry in 1960, where he worked for 38 years.  He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church of Neshkoro, and the Neshkoro Lions Club for many years.  Dennis loved fishing, hunting and trapping, watching sports and was a big Packer fan. 

Those Dennis leaves behind to cherish his memory include the love of his life, Barbara Jean (Brockway) Koats; six children, Susan (James) Good, Christine (James) Washkovick, Margaret (Mark) Munson, Richard (Lynnae) Koats, Francine (Kendal) Schmidtke, Aaron (Brenda) Koats; 11 grandchildren, Shane, Haley (fiancé, Quinten), Jacob, Ellen, Eric, Mitchell, Melissa, Tyler, Elaina, Gavin, and Robert; great granddaughter, Jayden; brother, Lugene (Susan) Koats; nephews, Terry, Carey, Jerry; and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard F. and Lila Koats; aunts and uncles.

A funeral service for Dennis R. Koats will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, October 19, 2018, with visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m., at Zion Lutheran Church, 227 North State St., in Neshkoro.  Pastor Arthur Callies will officiate.  Dennis will be laid to rest following the service at St. James Catholic Cemetery in Neshkoro.  If you wish, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be donated to the Mezin-Koats Colon Cancer Research Fund, or Agnesian Hospice Hope in Dennis' name.  Please visit our website www.wachholzandsons.com to send a condolence or to share a memory of Dennis with his family. 

The family of Dennis Koats would like to thank Agnesian Hospice Hope -Green Lake for the excellent care they provided.

Mezin- Koats Colon Cancer Research Fund Address:

University of Minnesota Foundation

C/O Mezin-Koats Colon Cancer Research Fund

200 Oak Street SE, Suite 500

Minneapolis, MN 55455-2012

Agnesian Hospice Hope

745 South Street

Suite 4

Green Lake, WI 54941

Wachholz and Sons Funeral Home

Sunset Cremation Center in Princeton

Serving the Family, 920-295-6631

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