John W. Kotsch, of Tomahawk Drive in Negley, passed away suddenly on Saturday, January 10, 2015, at East Liverpool City Hospital, where he has served as Director of Surgical Services for nearly two years. He had been taken to the hospital earlier in the evening, and died at 8:04 p.m., with his loving family nearby.

He was born on August 3, 1964 in Salem, a son of Shirley Hays Kotsch of Rogers and John F. “Jack” Kotsch, Jr. of Calcutta.

A lifetime area resident, he was a 1982 graduate of Beaver Local High School, and was raised as a member of Rogers Assembly of God. John attended the East Liverpool branch of Kent State University, where he earned his Associate degree in Nursing, and later received his Baccalaureate degree in Nursing from Kent State main campus.

He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, serving his country during the Gulf War as a medic in South Carolina. John began his career at East Liverpool City Hospital as a nurse’s aide, later becoming a suture tech and a staff nurse, before being appointed to his current position in 2013.

Known as a perfectionist, he was a hard worker, but also enjoyed his “down time” – especially when it had to do with his son, Troy. John and his wife, Janeen, loved following Troy as he participated in various swim meets and skateboard events through the years, often arranging their vacations with skateboarding in mind. A close-knit family, their happiest times were spent together – even if just working on fixing an old Jeep in the garage or cheering for his beloved Dallas Cowboys. His loved ones were of the utmost importance to him.

Surviving him at home is his wife, Janeen Mathias Kotsch, whom he married on June 11, 1988.

John also leaves a son, Troy J. Kotsch, who is currently a Biology major at Kent State University’s main campus, preparing for medical school.

In addition to his parents, John is survived by four sisters: Ruth Kotsch of Rogers; Rose Hulton and her husband, Oliver, also of Rogers; Robin Kidd and her husband, David, of Homeworth, OH; and Amy Powell and her husband, Lenard, also of Rogers. A sister-in-law, Daneen Hughes and her husband, Jim, of Calcutta, also survive, as well as Janeen’s parents, Ralph “Butch” and Colleen Mathias, of East Liverpool, who treated John like their very own.

John was a big kid at heart, and loved his nieces and nephews dearly: Tyler Hulton, Brianne Hulton; Brandon Kidd and his wife, KiAnna; Alex Kidd, Kaitlin Kidd, Orianna Powell, Jimmy Hughes and Jake Hughes. A nephew, Justin Kidd, preceded him in death.

Friends may visit at the Dawson Funeral Home on Wednesday, where the family will be present from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.

Services will be held at the funeral home Thursday at 10:00 a.m. with Charles Parry, one of John’s associates at the hospital, officiating.

Burial will take place at Crest Haven Memorial Gardens, where the Tri-State Veterans Burial Group will provide military honors. After the burial, friends and family will gather at the Dawson Family Center for a continued time of fellowship.

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