President of Holiday World has passed

[jzarley]

What a terrible thing. I feel so awful for his family and everyone at Holiday World.

[Monroe]

Rest my friend, you have done well in this life. Others can and have taken over where you have left off, and will continue to do so. There is so much you have done that so many do not know, you will be missed.

[pkiboy]

Looks like Cedar Fair has givein there prayers as well.

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/fun/blog/2010/6/14/We_Extend_Our_Sympathies.cfm

http://www.visitkingsisland.com/public/fun/blog/2010/6/14/We_extend_our_condolances.cfm

[DaveStroem]

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." Dr. Suess as read by Will Koch

http://www.holidayworld.com/node/3237

I think that this quote would be exactly as Will would want us to remember him.

[Colonel_SoB_fan]

I love this tweet, as it begins to storm.

BigSeaton @HolidayWorld Don't worry about any thunder you hear, its just Heaven's newest wooden roller coaster. :-)

[windshawne]

I can't believe she had the strength to go in today-god bless her-I know I couldn't have.

[icedripper]

so so sad. he was a true visionary in the industry. he will be missed.

[Guest Millennium]

Wow. This is horrible..it must be awful to have your son die before you...and to think all of us at HWN saw him about a week before his death..

[McSalsa]

Wow. This stunned me yesterday when I found on on the local news. I had actually seen Will on my visit to Holiday World on May 29th, and he appeared fine. This came as a total and unpleasant suprise.

My condolences to the entire Koch family.

[The Interpreter]

Apparent cause of death: drowning:

http://www.whas11.co...d-96415099.html

Also:

...Funeral arrangements for Koch have also been set. Visitation is Wednesday at 3 p.m. EST at the Santa Claus United Methodist Church in Santa Claus, Indiana.

Koch's funeral is at the church on Thursday at 11 a.m.

The family asks that instead of flowers memorials be sent to the Lincoln Boyhood Drama Association, the Juvenile Diabetes Association or the Santa Claus United Methodist Church.

[KIfan73]

Wow, that is really sad. So young with so much more to offer.

[Diamondback96]

Video from WLKY. I'm actually in the video, but that is trivial right now.

[gigacoaster2k]

I've been crying on and off since Monday morning.

At HWN, I sat in the new Timberliners that were on display outside of Voyage's entrance and gift shop. Gary (Beast79) shoved the restraint down on me all the way and laughed. Will was standing right by the train fragment. I pouted at Will and said "Gary stapled me!" Will laughed and released my restraint, and laughed even harder when I jumped out of the seat and punched Gary.

I also have a photo of Tom (Tom76257), Will, and I from HW closing day last year, which is my new Facebook profile photo. I'd share it, but I'm minus a computer at the moment.

I might go to HW this Friday. I know a few people that work there.. I feel for them. I've been thinking about the Koch family nonstop. I'm still in shock from this terrible news.

[Diamondback96]

Six Flags tweeted to Holiday World about this. http://twitter.com/SixFlags/status/16166504809

I would actually consider Will a kind of celebrity, at least in the amusement park industry. He pretty much revived the wooden coaster, showing everyone that wooden coasters can be just as fun as steel ones. He will go down in history, like John Miller, John Allen, and all of the great people that have been in the amusement industry.

[pkiboy]

Six Flags tweeted to Holiday World about this. http://twitter.com/SixFlags/status/16166504809

I would actually consider Will a kind of celebrity, at least in the amusement park industry. He pretty much revived the wooden coaster, showing everyone that wooden coasters can be just as fun as steel ones. He will go down in history, like John Miller, John Allen, and all of the great people that have been in the amusement industry.

He was very well known in the Amusement Industry he was also on the Bord for IAPPA.

[74Gibson]

This really hurts. I first visited Holiday World this year for Holiwood nights. I have gained so much respect for the Koch family and can't stop speaking their praises and the amazingly good place the Holiday World is. This is truly a loss. My thoughts are with his family and I wish them the best.

[DaveStroem]

Paula just put this link up to Coaster Radio's Tribute to Will.

Wow this is great. And so nice to hear Will's laugh again. :0)

http://blog.coasterr...te-to-will.html