Harold Koth

Harold E Koth, 92, of W5124 Koth Road, Tomahawk, died Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Tomahawk. Born in Tomahawk on May 15, 1915, Harold was the son of the late Walter and Mayme (Crass) Koth. He lived in the Tomahawk area all his life and worked at Owens Illinois from age 16 until his retirement. He was a proud U.S. Marine veteran of World War II who rarely spoke of his service to our country. Entering the Marines at age 27, Harold participated in first and second wave invasions in the Pacific theatre on Guadalcanal, Guam and Iwo Jima. He was a rifle sharpshooter and a demolition specialist. Harold was honorably discharged in October 1945 and was provided a travel allowance of 5 cents a mile to return to Tomahawk from Paris Island, South Carolina. Harold enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, and above all managing his 360 acre woodland in the Town of Skanawan. He was well known for his numerous gifts of home grown vegetables and flowers to neighbors, friends and shut ins in the area. He was also known to send unsolicited $100 checks to individuals suffering personal tragedies in the Tomahawk community. He was kind to animals. Harold also traveled the world. He visited the Great Wall of China and Bethlehem. In March of 1995 he joined 500 ex-Marines to return to Iwo Jima, where he found the same portion of volcanic beach upon which he had landed 50 years earlier. Harold is survived by two brothers, Floyd (Elaine) Koth, Tomahawk, and Robert (Evelyn) Koth, Merrill, one sister, Delores (Robert) Wogsland, Tomahawk, sisters-in-law Margaret, Lois, Marlene, and Jean, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He is preceded in death by brothers Walter, Herman, Oscar, Donald, Herbert, Ellsworth, and George. An extremely independent person, Harold lived at his home until the final week of his life.