Funeral Set for Man Who Died in Dexter Explosion

A funeral has been scheduled for Saturday for the man who died in an explosion at Dexter's wastewater treatment plant early Monday afternoon.

A service will be held for Michael Koch, 48, of Brooklyn, at 1 p.m. at the Cole Funeral Chapel in Chelsea with Rev. Kerry Snyder officiating. According to the chapel's website, his family will receive friends Friday from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the family for his children's college funds.

"He could fix or build anything," according to Koch's obituary. "Mike spent all of his free time with his wife and kids. He enjoyed golfing and riding his bike, and loved to fix cars.

Koch graduated from Dexter High School in 1982 and was a member of the Local 190. He is survived by his wife and four children.

>>Read Koch's full obituary.

According to AnnArbor.com, Koch was killed when flame from a welder’s torch ignited methane gas around 1:30 p.m. Monday. Another man, David McBride, 23, from Howell, was injured and is in stable condition.

According to the Dexter Leader, the sheriff's office found no evidence of foul play after investigating the explosion. Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration is now conducting its own investigation since it was a workplace incident.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the two men were working as subcontractors on a $3.3 million project to improve sludge handling at the plant. The plant remains operational.