Shirley Jean Kocher

Shirley Jean Kocher (nee Patchen), age 87, passed away April 4, 2019. at her home in Cleveland Heights with family by her side. Shirley “Patch” is survived by her daughters Gretchen and A’lyce Jo (AJ or Aly) Kocher of Cleveland Heights, her brother, George Patchen of Sandusky, her sister, Barbara (Ron) Streng, of Boise, Idaho, 17 nieces, nephews, and their families, as well as several four-legged grandchildren. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of more than 50 years, John William Kocher, her parents Lillian Mae (Leidorff) and Wayne Alfred Patchen, brothers Kermit (Alice), Kip (Jean), and Reed (Emily) Patchen, and sisters Phyllis Patchen and Jane (Carl) Watkins. Shirley was raised on the family farm in Hartland Township, Oh, with a belief in dedication to family first and foremost, as well as commitment to hard work and service to her community. After finishing New London High School, Shirley came to Cleveland to attend nursing school at Huron Road Hospital, she graduated as an RN in 1954. Shirley started her career as a scrub nurse at Huron Road Hospital then transitioned into occupational nursing. After 58 years in nursing, Shirley retired from the General Electric Nela Park plant in 2012. Shirley was involved with a number of charitable causes over the years, including The March of Dimes, UNICEF, and more recently, the Wounded Warriors Project. Service to her community included volunteer nursing at Red Cross blood drives, leader of numerous school fundraisers and member of the PTA, a troop leader with the Girl Scouts, and a lifetime member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW. Shirley enjoyed traveling and was a keen football and baseball fan; she had just recently returned from a visit with her daughters to the Cleveland Indians spring training camp in Goodyear, Az. Above all else, though, Shirley loved her family and friends, and she was at her absolute happiest spending time at the family farm where she grew up, surrounded by her large extended family. We all love and miss you, Patch, “and we mean that very seriously.” In memory of Shirley, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project: PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517/woundedwarriorproject.org/donate, or the Sanctuary for Senior Dogs (4681 Broadview Rd, Cleveland, OH 44109; www.sanctuaryforseniordogs.org)