Stephen Jewell Kovach

Stephen Jewell Kovach passed away on July 31, 2024 at the age of 67. Stephen was born on November 10, 1956 to Janie Charlene and Paul Stephen Kovach in Grand Junction, Colorado. 

Stephen graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1974. He ran cross country, played basketball, and baseball. He went on the play basketball at Adam State his freshmen year and got his associate’s degree there. He then went on to graduate from Northern Colorado with his Bachelors in Teaching. He started working at City Market soon after which then took him up to the Roaring Fork Valley to work and eventually raise his family in Basalt, CO. He worked for City Market for 17 years, and then went to work delivering bread and treats. After that, he worked for Colorado Poolscapes for 7 years before moving to Denver Colorado. After a few years there, Stephen moved back to Grand Junction for half a decade before following his beloved grandchildren to Ankeny Iowa for the last two years of his life. In Ankeny, he was surrounded by people who loved him both at work and at home. During this time, he was an elementary school bus driver. Not only did he enjoy driving the kids, but also bantering with his coworkers on a daily basis. Between bus rides Stephen loved playing with his granddaughters, conversations with his son and daughter-in-law over coffee and a healthy breakfast. Stephen quickly adapted to his adopted state of Iowa by rooting for all the local college sports teams, especially Caitlin Clark, but he never lost his love for the Colorado teams. 

Stephen was preceded in death by, Parents Janie and Paul Kovach, and Sister Sue Bou. 

Stephen was survived by his children; Justin and Kelli, Daughter in Law Amy, and Granddaughters Amber Jewel and Harper Grace, his brother Ron Kovach and sister Sandy (Kovach) Verdick.

A service will be held on February 8th at Brown Funeral Home in Grand Junction, Colorado. Services will start at 11am at 904 N 7th St Grand Junction, CO 81501. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be left at Brown’s Cremation and Funeral Home for the Kovach Family. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to The Gifted Tree to honor Stephen’s love of the outdoors: https://www.thegiftedtree.com/