A monumental loss: D-NH mourns death of beloved special education teacher

Even as he spent his final days lying on a hospital bed in Iowa City, Court Koch could only think of his students.
           
The 31-year-old Dike-New Hartford high school special education teacher passed away early Sunday due to pneumonia and complications with a rare blood disease known as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), and since then, tributes have poured in. Koch will be remembered by co-workers, family members and friends as a dedicated educator, husband and new father—his daughter, Emery, is just 13 months old.
           
“He cared about his students and what was in their best interests more than anything else,” D-NH High School Principal Irv Laube said. “He found a way to connect to his kids. He would push them, even to the point where they might get upset with him, but in the end, they came to understand that Court only wanted what was best for them.”
           
Court, who grew up in the West Marshall district, previously taught at Marshalltown before moving northeast in 2014 when his wife Lynette took a new job in Waverly. He quickly became a member of the Wolverine family and wanted to spend the rest of his career at D-NH.
           
“Once he landed here, it just became home. It was just a natural fit for him and his personality, and who was,” Laube said. “Just that fun-loving spirit, not afraid to have fun with his students.” 
 
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