Bill Koch met Nancy Vittone when they were in high school at Thornton Township High School in Harvey Illinois. They were introduced by Nancy's now brother-in-law and quickly became high school sweethearts...marrying a few years later in September, 1977. They later moved to New Lenox where they've been part of the community for over 25 years. 

 

Bill fast became part of the Vittone family, and quickly got involved with Sam (a veteran) & Olga's efforts to help veterans by volunteering at the VFW Post 9545 in New Lenox. The entire family worked relentlessly to see that events, Friday Fish Fry, efforts and fundraisers went the best they could. Bill and Nancy's three daughters were part of those efforts, too. They made sure the entire family knew what it was to help others, value family & friends and to be there whenever needed. They became the backbone of our VFW Post, always helped veterans in need and took on many other causes where they have made more of a difference than we will ever know. Always willing to help - never wanting credit. Always giving - never taking.

​

Bill started his own business and continued helping the community. Always humble and never hesitant to help. Never backing down from work and continuously donating assistance before being asked.  Bill & Nancy have been married almost 40 years and are a model to us all - innately kind, supportive, hard working, honest and friendly. Qualities we don't see too often in these times.

​

Bill and Nancy, are truly the epitome of what it means to be “good people”. These "good people" have never asked for anything from others. Now's the time for us to be as kind as they have been throughout their lives and give them some support.

After undergoing what was supposed to be a routine removal of a cyst on the back of his throat, Bill received devastating news. He has rhabdomyosarcoma. This rare and difficult to treat cancer is hardly ever found in adults. Bill has gone to, and will continue to have to go to,Texas MD Anderson Hospital in Houston. There is hope he can get treatment in Illinois, but the rarity of this cancer makes it difficult to find doctors even familiar with it.

He underwent 5 days a week of eight hour cycles of a grueling and, needless to say extremely expensive chemotherapy. This lasted for months. He lost his hair but, NEVER his spirit. All this time he has to go to Texas for tests, and meetings with his “team” to determine what will happen next. After a second surgery Bill underwent 6 additional weeks of radiation in Texas in June and then learned there will be additional treatments following. He is currently in the midst of this continuous treatment.  This entire time he has incurred insurmountable expense and been unable to work. As a self-employed person on private health care, there is no disability or other company benefit available to him. The business he spent so many years building has to be dissolved - and not in the big corporate way many may think. There are no secret assets to make this any easier on him and his family. 

Through all of this Bill has had his devoted wife, Nancy, by his side as well as the rest of his family and close friends. Please, let’s try to ease the burden on these wonderful people who for years have done so much for others. Their focus has been on keeping their day-to-day lives as normal as possible for their young grandson, Ryder, who they are helping raise. Helping them keep a small sense of semblance in their lives would be a huge gift! Your participation in this fundraiser will go a long way toward this cause. 

If you can't join us, please click

https://www.youcaring.com/billkoch-852784
to make a donation to our YouCaring fund.

(We also have a GoFund me, but are directing to YouCaring due to fees.)

There is no donation too big or too small. Through coming together we can make a positive difference in the life of a positive, dedicated, wonderful person and his family – and show others that there is a little more humanity around us than we might be accustomed to!

100% of all proceeds will go directly to benefit the cause.

If you should have any questions, please feel free to reach out! For your reference, our FEIN number is 82-1653763. Phone contact: 815-212-1608 and email: friendsofthekochs@gmail.com