Mary Jane Kovac
April 30, 1919-Feb. 13, 2007
Mary Jane "M.J." Kovac, 87, of Crystal Falls, MI, and formerly of Niles, died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007, in the Iron County Medical Care Facility in Crystal Falls.
She was born April 30, 1919, in Grand Haven, MI, the daughter of the late Hilbrand and Johanna (Fisher) Beukema. M.J., as she liked to be called, attended the Grand Haven Public Schools and graduated from Western Michigan University in 1941 with a degree in business education.
M.J. resided in Niles for over 50 years, where she taught high school and adult education business courses (her favorite was typing) in the Niles Community Schools for nearly 25 years, retiring in 1977.
On July 2, 1942, she married Anthony John (Kovacich) Kovac of Iron River in Grand Haven, MI. She and her husband had a camp at Brule Lake near Iron River and spent some time there each summer. Following her retirement, M.J. and Tony enjoyed traveling to Europe and the Caribbean Islands before he preceded her in death on July 20, 1980.
She moved to the Upper Peninsula in 2004, residing at the Iron County Medical Care Facility.
M.J. loved to sew, knit, read, watch movies and shop. She belonged to the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the Michigan and National Education Associations, and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was also preceded in death by her daughter, Beverly, on May 21, 1983; and by her brother, Henry Beukema, in 2005.
She is survived by her son, Keith (JoAnn) Kovac of Iron River; two grandchildren, Danae and Zachary of Chicago; and a niece, Susan (Beukema) Trudeau of Waterford, MI. Many Kovac and Kovacich nieces and nephews also survive.
Friends may call Saturday, March 3, from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Langenberg Funeral Home -- Iron River Chapel. Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 3, at 11 a.m. in the funeral home. The Rev. Ric Jacobsen, pastor of the Evangelical Free Church in Three Lakes, WI, will officiate. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, MI.
Memorials for M.J. Kovac may be made to the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Program, Mayo Clinic -- Dept. of Development, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905; or online at www.mayoclinic.org/development/make-gift.html.
Family and friends may share memories or leave messages of sympathy in the family's online guestbook at www.langenbergfuneralhome.com.
The Langenberg Funeral Home -- Iron River Chapel, is serving the family.
Submitted by family member; publication details unknown