John Charles Koss Obituary
John C. Koss delivered into the arms of the Lord on December 21, 2021. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 66 years, Nancy L. (nee Weeks) Koss.
Born on February 22, 1930, to Earl L. Koss and Eda L. (nee Kenkel) Koss, John is survived by his brother G. Peter (Vicki) Koss, of Idaho.
The music loving teenaged John Koss met the love of his life, Nancy, while attending Riverside High School. The couple dated for five years before marrying in 1952.
John is credited with the birth of two businesses: the Koss Hospital Television Rental Company, in 1953, and Koss Stereophones in 1958.
John is also survived by his five children and their spouses: Michael J. (Julie) Koss, Debra K. (Steve) Fulton, John C. (Stacey) Koss Jr., Linda L.K. (Michael) Moore, Pamela K. (Stephen) Geimer.
John was the proud grandfather of fifteen grandchildren: Jessica Koss (Tyler) Hillstrom, Michael J. (Christina) Koss Jr., Sarah Koss (Dr. Mark) Splittgerber, Charles J. Koss II, Elizabeth Sosey (Tom) Boates, Samantha Sosey (Michael) Brickman, Matthew J. Sosey, Caleigh R. Koss, David D. (Mary Gourley) Moore, Nancie Moore (Cliff) Wozniak, Ashlee Moore (Cary) James, Christopher T. (Brittani) Moore, Casey Geimer (Jake) Lichter, Morgan L. Geimer (Eric) King and Benton L. Geimer.
John was the proud great-grandfather of fifteen great-grandchildren: Charles W. Hillstrom, Elisabeth L. Hillstrom, Joseph M. Hillstrom, Charles J. Splittgerber, Gunnar M. Splittgerber, Julie L. Splittgerber, Charlotte H. Boates, Jackson T. Boates, Robert A. Brickman, Nora M. Brickman, Olive V. Moore, Estelle S. Moore, Alice K. Moore, Liam D. Moore and Lillian J. Lichter.
John grew up in Milwaukee, WI. attending Hartford Avenue School, and Riverside High School. He served in the Air National Guard at Truax Field. He was devoted to his faith and helped organize Milwaukee's Billy Graham Crusade.
He served his local community as a director, and past Chairman, of Junior Achievement of Southeastern Wisconsin, and as a director of the Milwaukee School of Engineering where he received the Pioneer Award in 1980, along with an honorary Doctor of Engineering Degree in 1983.
In 2007, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Seymour Cray Award for Distinction in Technology presented by The Wisconsin Historical Society. John has been inducted into the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame, The Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame, and the Audio Hall of fame.
A memorial service to honor John Koss will be held at the North Shore Congregational Church 7330 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Fox Point, Wisconsin at 11:00 am February 11, 2022. The service will live stream via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com The family will greet visitors after the service at the church until 2:00 PM when a private interment will take place. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to: The Medical College of Wisconsin /Koss Hearing and Balance Center in memory of John Koss via check to: The Medical College of Wisconsin: 8701 Watertown Plank Road, P.O. Box 26509, Milwaukee, WI 53226-0509 or online at: https://mcwsupport.mcw.edu.
