Family Card - Person Sheet
Family Card - Person Sheet
NameJohn “Ginger” KOVACH 
Birth Date15 Dec 1903
Birth PlaceRadeče, Yugoslavia
Death Date18 Jul 1982 Age: 78
Death PlaceRock Springs, Sweetwater County, Wyoming
Burial PlaceRock Springs, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, Rock Springs Cemetery
FatherJoseph KOVACH (1876-1950)
MotherFrances BERK (1879-1970)
Spouses
Birth Date1910
Death Date20 Jun 1942 Age: 32
Death PlaceRock Springs, Sweetwater County, Wyoming
Burial PlaceRock Springs, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, Rock Springs Cemetery
Family ID10437
Marr Date1928
Marr PlaceRock Springs, Sweetwater County, Wyoming
Notes for John “Ginger” KOVACH
Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner, Jul 24, 1982
JOHN KOVACH
Services for John “Ginger” Kovach Sr., 78, of 1036 Adams Ave., Rock Springs were conducted Wednesday, July 21 at the LDS Church. Bishop Ronald Fowler officiated.
Burial was in the Paul J. Wataha Memorial Park.
David Kershisnik, Steven Kershisnik, Scott Sartori, Christopher Sartori, Robert Kovach, Christopher Kovach, Mark Kovach and Jon Christopher served as pallbearers. Richard Young, Ronald Young, Cody Christensen and Kelly Foreman served as honorary pallbearers.
Mr. Kovach died Sunday, July 18 at the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County following a one-week illness.
He was born at Radece, Yugoslavia on Dec. 15, 1903, the son of the late Joseph and Frances Berk Kovach. He married Ellen Spence in Rock Springs in 1928 and she preceded him in death in 1942. On May 19, 1943, Mr. Kovach married the former Ann R. Egger in Rock Springs. They later had their marriage solemnized in the LDS Temple in Logan, Utah.
He was brought to Wyoming by his mother when she traveled to join her husband in 1906. He had arrived a year earlier to work in the mines.
He lived in the Rock Springs area for 74 years and was schooled in the Reliance Public School and at Rock Springs High School. He began working in the mines at age 15, but finished high school by a correspondence course.
He also attended night school, where he became a master mechanic and eventually mine foreman. After 33 years with the Union Pacific Coal Co., he joined the FMC Corporation and retired after 18 years as safety superintendent. Under his supervision FMC established nationally recognized safety records.
Mr. Kovach played the trombone in the Union Pacific band. He also played and sang with various local bands.
He served as a Hospital Board member for 20 years, and helped with the new hospital project during his term as board chairman. He was also active in the United Mine Workers of America in Reliance.
Mr. Kovach was also active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Survivors include his wife, Ann of Rock Springs; three sons, John Jr. of Simi Valley, Calif., Michael of Rock Springs and Joseph Knute Kovach of Hollywood, Calif.; three daughters, Mrs. David (Mary Ann) Kershisnik of Bergen, Norway, Mrs. Ronald (Diane) Sartori of Granger, Utah and Mrs. Steve (Lynn) Christensen of Saratoga; two brothers, Frank and Henry, both of Rock Springs; three sisters, Mrs. John (Frances) Frullo of Rock Springs, Mrs. Richard (Ann) Young of Reliance, and Mrs. Floyd (Jenny) Brower of Yakima, Wash.; 13 grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and first wife, Ellen Spence, Mr. Kovach was preceded in death by one brother, Joseph and one sister, Mary.
On Find A Grave.
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JOHN KOVACH
Services for John “Ginger” Kovach Sr., 78, of 1036 Adams Ave., Rock Springs were conducted Wednesday, July 21 at the LDS Church. Bishop Ronald Fowler officiated.
Burial was in the Paul J. Wataha Memorial Park.
David Kershisnik, Steven Kershisnik, Scott Sartori, Christopher Sartori, Robert Kovach, Christopher Kovach, Mark Kovach and Jon Christopher served as pallbearers. Richard Young, Ronald Young, Cody Christensen and Kelly Foreman served as honorary pallbearers.
Mr. Kovach died Sunday, July 18 at the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County following a one-week illness.
He was born at Radece, Yugoslavia on Dec. 15, 1903, the son of the late Joseph and Frances Berk Kovach. He married Ellen Spence in Rock Springs in 1928 and she preceded him in death in 1942. On May 19, 1943, Mr. Kovach married the former Ann R. Egger in Rock Springs. They later had their marriage solemnized in the LDS Temple in Logan, Utah.
He was brought to Wyoming by his mother when she traveled to join her husband in 1906. He had arrived a year earlier to work in the mines.
He lived in the Rock Springs area for 74 years and was schooled in the Reliance Public School and at Rock Springs High School. He began working in the mines at age 15, but finished high school by a correspondence course.
He also attended night school, where he became a master mechanic and eventually mine foreman. After 33 years with the Union Pacific Coal Co., he joined the FMC Corporation and retired after 18 years as safety superintendent. Under his supervision FMC established nationally recognized safety records.
Mr. Kovach played the trombone in the Union Pacific band. He also played and sang with various local bands.
He served as a Hospital Board member for 20 years, and helped with the new hospital project during his term as board chairman. He was also active in the United Mine Workers of America in Reliance.
Mr. Kovach was also active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Survivors include his wife, Ann of Rock Springs; three sons, John Jr. of Simi Valley, Calif., Michael of Rock Springs and Joseph Knute Kovach of Hollywood, Calif.; three daughters, Mrs. David (Mary Ann) Kershisnik of Bergen, Norway, Mrs. Ronald (Diane) Sartori of Granger, Utah and Mrs. Steve (Lynn) Christensen of Saratoga; two brothers, Frank and Henry, both of Rock Springs; three sisters, Mrs. John (Frances) Frullo of Rock Springs, Mrs. Richard (Ann) Young of Reliance, and Mrs. Floyd (Jenny) Brower of Yakima, Wash.; 13 grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and first wife, Ellen Spence, Mr. Kovach was preceded in death by one brother, Joseph and one sister, Mary.
On Find A Grave.
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Notes for Ellen (Spouse 1)
Rock Springs Daily Rocket, Jun 23, 1942
Funeral Services For Mrs. Kovach Held on Monday
Funeral services for Mrs. Ellen Kovach, 32, wife of John Kovach, of Reliance, who died at the Wyoming General hospital Saturday, were held at 1 p.m. Monday from the L.D.S. church, Bishop Cecil James officiating. Burial was in Mountain View cemetery.
Mrs. Kovach was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William R. Spence of Dines, and granddaughter of Mrs. Ellen Williams of Rock Springs. Surviving in addition to the above are her three children, John Jr., Mary Anne and Diane; two brothers, James of Green River and William who is in the army; and one sister, Audrey Spence.
On Find A Grave.
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Funeral Services For Mrs. Kovach Held on Monday
Funeral services for Mrs. Ellen Kovach, 32, wife of John Kovach, of Reliance, who died at the Wyoming General hospital Saturday, were held at 1 p.m. Monday from the L.D.S. church, Bishop Cecil James officiating. Burial was in Mountain View cemetery.
Mrs. Kovach was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William R. Spence of Dines, and granddaughter of Mrs. Ellen Williams of Rock Springs. Surviving in addition to the above are her three children, John Jr., Mary Anne and Diane; two brothers, James of Green River and William who is in the army; and one sister, Audrey Spence.
On Find A Grave.
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