August 27, 1942 – June 19, 2026
James Arthur Kocher, age 83, of Newton, Illinois, passed away at 6:08 AM on Friday, June 19, 2026, at Helia Healthcare in Olney, Illinois.
Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM – Friday, June 26, 2026, at Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Sainte Marie, Illinois, with Father Pawel Luczak celebrating mass. The burial will be in the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Newton, Illinois, with military rites by the Sainte Marie American Legion Post #932. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois, and again from 10:00 to 10:30 AM on Friday, at the church before mass. In loving memory of James, memorials may be made to the Mount Calvary Cemetery Fund. The obituary can be viewed and condolences left at www.meyerfh.com.
James Arthur, better known to his family and friends as Jim, was born on August 27, 1942, near Boos, in Jasper County, Illinois. He graduated from Newton Community High School with the Class of 1961. He married Norma Jean Keolker on October 19, 1968, at Saint Jospeh Catholic Church in Stringtown, Illinois.
Jim retired from the Equity West Libert Plant after 35 years of service. He was a member of Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church and the Saint Marie American Legion Post #932.
Jim served in the United States Army Reserves. He was avid quail hunter and enjoyed fishing, trapping and gardening. Jim spent countless hours making birdhouses and shared them with family and friends.
Jim is survived by:
Wife – Norma Kocher
Son – Roger Kocher (fiancé Sarah Spade) of Robinson, Illinois
Grandchildren – Tony (Chasity) Spade of Robinson, Illinois and Lauren Douglas of Robinson, Illinois
Great Grandchildren – Taylor Spade, Trevor Spade and Halle Douglas
Brother – Paul (Jill) Kocher of Olney, Illinois and Glenn (Georgia) Kocher
Sisters – Evelyn Edwards of Missouri and Donna Dryden of North Carolina
Sister-in-law – Kathy Ochs of West Liberty, Illinois
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Melvin Kocher and Ben Kocher and sisters Martha Kocher and Rose Kocher.
