Obituaries
Frederick “Fred” Kovar
March 5, 1934 - February 14, 2020


- Memorial Service
Frederick “Fred” Kovar, 85, born March 5, 1934 to the late Stefan and Maria (Wilem) Kovar, left this earth February 14, 2020 surrounded by his family. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Patricia “Pat”; sons Frederick and Michael (Michelle), and daughter Terri Ekstrom; six amazing grandchildren: Nicholas, Matthew (Lara), and Katelyn Ekstrom; Wyatt, Josh, and Jake Kovar; and 2 great-grandchildren: Emma and Isak Ekstrom. Fred served two years for the US Army in Germany from 1956-1958. Two of his grandsons followed in his footsteps and are currently serving our country – Nick in the US Navy and Wyatt in the US Marine Corp.
Fred worked hard his whole life starting with the childhood farm in Wayland, Michigan with his 9 siblings. He is survived by his sisters Rose, Charlene, Ethel and brother Bill. He is joining the siblings that went before him – brothers Robert, who died serving the country on the US Arizona in Pearl Harbor, Steve, and Ed; sister Rose, who died in infancy, and Mary.
After moving in with his oldest brother Steve in his teens, he went to Washburn Trade School and earned a Journeyman’s certificate in 1955. Upon leaving the Army and moving back to the US from Germany, Fred and Pat moved around the Chicagoland area before they settled in Winfield where they raised their children and made many lifelong friendships.
Fred ran his own construction company for many years. He was always thinking of something to improve and never had to write it down because it was all in his head. He was a talented craftsman building many homes in the western suburbs of Chicago, including his own. After a hard day on the job, Fred could be found quenching his thirst with a cold beer at the neighborhood bar, John’s Buffet.
Upon retirement, Fred and Pat moved up to the Northwoods of Wisconsin for 18 years on Lake Gilmore in Woodruff, WI which had been their family vacation home and was transformed from a small cabin to what it is today. His love of animals was apparent throughout his life, where he raised many family dogs and made sure any animal in the Northwoods was fed.
Fred and Pat moved back to the Geneva area this past Thanksgiving to be surrounded by family and assist in Fred’s care. A memorial service to celebrate Fred will be determined at a later date.
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