Joseph H. "Bucky" Kotch Jr., 77 of West, passed away early Tuesday morning, March 26, 2019. A Rosary will be recited and Memorial Mass will be at 1:00 pm Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at St. Mary Church Of The Assumption in West, with Rev. Ed Karasek as celebrant, Nicholas Allnut as Altar Server. Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Bremond, Texas. Visitation with the family will be 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Monday, April 1, 2019 at Bellmead Funeral Home. Joe was born July 26, 1941 in Bremond, Texas the son of Joseph H. and Rose (Atomanczyk) Kotch Sr. He attended St. Mary School and graduated in 1959 from Bremond High School, where he lettered in football. After graduation he attended Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science, receiving his Texas Funeral Directors and Embalmers License. In 1962, he moved to the town of West, Texas and built Kotch Funeral Home and Kotch Ambulance Service. He also had locations in Bellmead and Waco. He retired from the funeral business in 2008 and took great pride in serving many Central Texas families. He owned and operated Kotch Limousine Service as well as La Vega Flower Shop from 1980 to 2004. Joe was a 3rd Degree Knight and was a member of the Msgr. Doskocil 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. He was instrumental in building the first KC Hall and the construction of the current KC Hall in West. He was also a 56 year member of the Texas Funeral Directors Association. In 2013, he was recognized as a 50 year member. He was on the first Board of Directors for the West Community Hospital, as well as the first Westfest in 1976. Joe started the Memorial Building Fund for the West Rest Haven Nursing Home, where not too long ago he was responsible for getting 35 new wheel chairs for the new nursing home. He was a member of S.P.J.S.T. Lodge #6, West Kiwanis Club, KJZT, Bellmead Lions Club, Bellmead Chamber of Commerce and was a Board Member of the March of Dimes Waco Chapter. He is preceded in death by his parents; his great-grandson, Aaron Pettaway; his sister-in-law, Janice Kotch; and brother-in-law, Joe Burda. He is survived by his wife, Ruby Kotch; his 4 children, Valerie Rogers (Chris), Victor Kotch, Vance Kotch (Donna) and Vanessa Gatlin (Wesley); 5 grandchildren, Joshua Jensen, Lauren Jensen, Whitney Brummell, Austin Williams and Kaede Kotch; 4 great-grandchildren; 3 step-children, Kathleen Daniels (Terrance), Darrell Betz, Kenneth Betz and David Betz; 5 step-grandchildren; his siblings, Sylvia Burda, Wanda Ray (John), Helen Howell (Lee) and Jim Kotch. Honorary Pallbearers will be the members of Monsignor George Doskocil 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Assembly # 2391. Memorials may be made to the West Volunteer Ambulance Association, P. O. Box 461, West, Texas 76691.