Obituary: Mike Kovachich

Calumet

Mike Kovachich, 71, a resident of Calumet passed away on Friday evening August 23, 2019 at home surrounded by his family.

He was born on June 12, 1948 in Laurium, a son of the late John and Marjorie (Perko) Kovachich.

He graduated from Calumet High School with the class of 1966 and went on to attend Suomi College and Northern Michigan University graduating in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. 

On August 9, 1975 he was united in marriage to Andrea Moilanen at Sacred Heart Church in Calumet.

Mike began his career at the Houghton County Road Commission while still in high school and worked his way to Foreman. He retired in 2009. While employed with the Road Commission, Mike was regularly seen taking evening rides observing road conditions and projects in preparation for the next work day. Those evening rides continued well after his retirement. “606” will be greatly missed.

Mike has always been a hard worker with a strong work ethic. If there was a problem, he would be sure to figure out a solution and if it didn’t work, he’d figure out another one. As a boy he made extra money picking strawberries, shining shoes, shoveling paths and driveways and doing tasks for neighbors. Being idle was definitely not in his character. His hard work continued into his career where he put in many hours of overtime, including weekends and Holidays. He rarely spent a Christmas morning with his family because he was making sure the roads were open so everyone else could get to their family.

Spring, summer and fall also consisted of him making upwards of twenty truckloads of wood to heat his house. He would comment on how many times the wood would warm him since he handled it multiple times, Mike had his own system!

Mike played baseball from a young age up until his 40’s when his pitching elbow told him to retire. He continued to enjoy baseball by following the Detroit Tigers and was also a faithful Green Bay Packers fan.

He actively pursued his life long love of flower gardening and landscaping. His beautiful gardens and retaining walls can be seen throughout Houghton and Keweenaw counties.

Mike enjoyed helping people and found great purpose doing tasks for others. He was a talented handyman and a volunteer medical transportation driver for Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly.

Mike enjoyed bike rides around town, evening rides in his vehicle, woodworking in the basement and painting walls for just about everyone. 

He was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Calumet.

Surviving are his wife: Andy; Daughters: Michelle and Krissy(Ernie); Sister: Mary Kovachich Lienau (Jim); Mother-in-Law: Angeline Moilanen; Nephews: James (Andi) Lienau and Johnny (Natasha) Lienau.

A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday August 28, 2019 at 11:00 AM in Sacred Heart Church with Fr. Gracious Pulimoottil to officiate.

Friends may visit the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet on Tuesday August 27, 2019 from 5-8 PM with a prayer service held at 7:45 PM.

Burial will be in the Lake View Cemetery in Calumet.

Online condolences can be left for the family at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com