Holiday World's Will Koch dies at 48

GregLeg said:
First thing I can think of would be an insulin reaction while swimming, but I have no solid information to confirm or refute that.

Tragic all around.

Or the opposite and extremely low blood sugar. My mom-in-law, has scared us a couple of times when her sugar drops too low and she basically passed out. It's a real delicate balance, insulin/sugar/exercise.

But I you Greg know that better than any of us.

Actually an insulin reaction is from extremely low blood sugar. Diabetic ketoacidosis is the other extreme with extremely high blood sugars. Both are life-threatening.

Roz

First, I never had the pleasure of personally meeting Will, although I have spotted him around the park.

That being said, I hope nobody takes this as me stating the inappropriate, but I sincerely hope that Will at least got a ride in his new Timberliners.That man worked tirelessly for us, his guests, and I would love to hear that he got to experience the Timberliners first hand.

Will was constantly in the news and the way he communicated with us, well...he was a class act and the real deal.

Exactly, Roz. I should have been clearer for people who aren't affected by this.

The story of the tragic drowning in his own pool, coupled with the family's belief that it was diabetes-related, made me think immediately of a sudden drop in blood sugar. That can happen VERY suddenly if too much insulin is taken, especially when one is exercising (I know from personal experience that even the simple fact of walking around at a park all day requires me to reduce my insulin dosage by 50% or more, compared to the usual routine. When I'm outside doing yard work or riding my bike, I usually have to cut back to about 10% of my normal insulin intake AND frequently still need to eat).

Ketoacidosis generally takes longer to set in and for most people has more warnings, but is just as dangerous.

As 2Hostyl said, it's a very delicate balancing act.

When their Blood Sugar drops rapidly, people become disoriented and confused and will often pass-out.

Sadly, I lost a friend of mine in college to Type-1 D. They found her on the floor of her apartment 3 days later.

I mentally translated "complications from diabetes" to "we haven't got a clue; apart from his chronic condition, he wasn't sick and it wasn't otherwise obvious." When I read about the coroner's report, it clicked pretty fast for me. There are a lot of things that could have happened, most of which won't themselves kill a person, but which can incapacitate a person quickly and unexpectedly. And in the right (or wrong, depending on how you look at it) situation, that's all it takes.

Thanks, Greg, for the explanation.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Please excuse my ingorance in terminology, but yeah, we're talking about the same thing. It's frightfully facinating just how quick blood sugar can swing, especially when exercise is involved.

There is an update on holiday worlds facebook page, that shows a billboard that says "Honoring the life of Will Koch".

Thanks very much for all these kind comments about Will. I spoke with his wife, Lori, this morning and told her about the "modern Disney" reference and it meant the world to her. Thank you for that. She was and is so proud of Will, and his greatest legacy, their beautiful children: Lauren, Leah and William.

Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Thanks, Paula

It's certainly a good comparison. I'm trying to think of some kind of comparison of Walt's swamp to Will's... corn field, but then it sounds like I'm picking on Indiana. :)

So I just got this news, happened on the article by mistake. I truly am at a loss for words; I cannot add really anything to whats already been said. I was lucky enough to have met Will on almost every visit I have made to HW, and he truly was a class act, a gentleman through and through. He will be missed greatly by so many; I agree with RaptorJo and a few others, I really wish I had made the trek to HWN last month.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Koch family and everyone there at HW. I think it would be a good idea that if any of us are able, to try and get out to the park for a visit this season if we havnt already. I think I will definitely be attending Fall Affair now.

wow.....

Will's brother Dan will be taking the reins of the company.

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?id=42288&utm_sour...nt=Twitter

Glad to see Holiday World stay in the family.

Here is a link for those interested in learning more about the history of the Koch family and Holiday World / Lake Rudolph.

http://hohoholdings.com/kdhistory.htm

We posted a "Remembering Will" video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMljZUbMaAk

At the end is a clip with his middle child, Leah, asking some of the questions that had been posted on the HoliBlog a few years back. It's great to hear that laugh again. :)

Paula

^Thanks for that, Paula...still think Pat (aka, "grandma") should have been standing next to Will for that last question. ;)

I love it. Thanks for sharing it with us Paula.

Great video, Paula. So sad that he has passed and we feel so sorry for his kids and family for the loss.

Awesome! Thanks, I enjoyed that. Will was a great man and will not be forgotten.

I think the Will as a modern day Walt Disney is a very good comparison. Watch this then this and you'll see it too.