✦ ✦ ✦
Funeral services for Joseph V. Kovac, 83 of Shepherd will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan 13, 2006, at st. Joseph's Catholic Church, with father Clifton Labbe officiating.
Mr. Kovac died on Monday, Jan. 9, in Hospice of the Pines.
He was born Aug. 21, 1922 in Creighton, Pa. Mr. Kovac was worked his entire life in steel mills in Pennsylvania and Michigan, retiring from McLouth Steel as a traffic manager. He served his country during World War II from Dec. 7,1942 to Aug.31, 1945 as a Naval Air Force second class petty officer. He was a B-24 crew member who flew on 65 missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross. He gave his Air Force wings to Bob Hope while Hope was entertaining the troops in the South Pacific. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and football and cutting firewood and was known as a loving husband and father and good provider.
Survivors include his wife, Frances V. Kovac, children, Maureen Stagg and husband Bob, David Kovac and wife Claudia, Monica Olson and husband Steve and Jeanne Smith and husband Jeff; grandchildren, Roger Ritter, Nathan Kovac, Justin Kovac, Olivia Kovac, Alexandrea Smith and Samantha Smith and great-grandchildren, Cole Ritter and Grant Ritter.
Pace Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.