In the early 1930s, an Austin High School student penned his first story for the local paper. It was the start of Thomas Koeck’s 49-year career with the Austin Daily Herald.

Koeck, 96, passed away on Friday in Bloomington, Minn. He was a husband, father, grandfather, as well as a sports enthusiast and journalist.

Early career

Koeck was born in Rockfield, Wis., and graduated from Austin High School in 1933. He continued working for the Herald until his service with the Army began in 1940.

During World War II, Koeck saw action in the European Theatre and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. At the end of his five-year service, Koeck attained the rank of second lieutenant.

After the war, Koeck returned to the Herald. Journalist Darrel Koehler, in his 20s at the time, worked with Koeck at the Herald from 1963 until 1972. Koeck was the sports editor at the time, but later became editor.

“He was very precise,” Koehler — who is now 71 and writes for the Grand Forks Herald — said of his work ethic. “He was a very nice man. I enjoyed working with him.”

Koeck later spent 18 months working for the St. Paul Pioneer Press before returning to the Herald at the offer of a promotion. The evening work required by a morning paper didn’t fit his family’s schedule, said Joann Nordin, his daughter.

Parenthood

Koeck’s son, George, and two daughters, Gretchen and Joann, knew him to be a strict yet supportive parent.

“He was very proud of my brother, sister and I,” Joann Nordin said. “He really pushed us to do our best.”

When Nordin wrote for her school paper, she used to give him stories to look over.

“He was a ruthless editor on them,” Nordin said. “When I read them again, they were better.”

An avid sports fan, Koeck loved the Twins. He covered the World Series in 1956 and again in 1965. He kept up with the team through his final days, Nordin said.

But his enthusiasm wasn’t just limited to baseball.

“He loved to play golf,” Nordin said. “Nine holes a day if he could, and 18 on Saturdays.”

Koeck regularly got involved in the community. He was an active member of the Lion’s Club and First United Methodist Church in Austin. He also served as past president of the Minnesota Associated Press Association.

Koeck retired in 1980. According to his obituary, he loved to travel with his wife Marian, who died in April 2010. In addition to his three children, he is survived by six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Nordin said Koeck was honored Tuesday with a 21-gun salute for his military service. The memorial service was lovely, she added.

“The closing song was ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame,’” she said. “He would have really liked it.”