Elaine Marie (Stauffer) KOVACH

KOVACH, ZOLLER, CROGHAN, STAUFFER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:07:02

December 4, 1923 ---- October 4, 2018

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Elaine M. Kovach of Dows, Iowa, who passed away on October 4th 2018, leaving to mourn family and friends. She was loved and cherished by many people including : her brother, Harold; her husband, Joseph Kovach, Jr. (Joe) of Steubenville; her children, Larry Kovach of Flagstaff, Nancy Zoller of Loveland, Sharon Croghan of Keenesburg; her nephew, Johnnie Stauffer.

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Elaine Marie Kovach, born to Ralph and Mayme Stauffer in Waterloo, Iowa on December 4, 1923 went home to be with her Lord and Savior on October 4, 2018. She passed while residing at North Shore Nursing Home in Loveland, CO.

Elaine [was born and] [sic] lived in Dows, Iowa with her older brother, Harold, until the family moved to Arizona when Elaine was in the 5th grade. She graduated from high school in Phoenix, Arizona and immediately began working as a School Secretary at Madison Elementary. Eventually Elaine enrolled and attended Arizona State University from 1943-45, where she met her husband Joseph Kovach, Jr. (Joe) of Steubenville, Ohio. They married January 29, 1948. Soon they began their family, having 3 children, Larry Kovach of Flagstaff, Arizona, Nancy Zoller of Loveland, Colorado, and Sharon Croghan of Keenesburg, Colorado, 7 grand-children, and 6 great grand-children at the time of her passing. A nephew, Johnnie Stauffer (son of Elaine’s brother Harold Stauffer) of Branson, Missouri also played an important role in their lives. Joe and Elaine raised Johnnie for several months while his parents were dealing with the illness of an older sibling. They so enjoyed having Johnny in their lives they decided to have another child themselves, which lead to the birth of their youngest daughter, Sharon.

In 1963, Joe and Elaine became managers of the El Navajo Lodge in Grand Lake, Colorado, eventually taking ownership. This began a journey of many annual trips from Phoenix to Grand Lake, leaving Phoenix on Memorial Day and returning home on Labor Day after accommodating all the tourists residing nightly at the Lodge to enjoy Rocky Mountain National Park. El Navajo Lodge became a well known destination through their persistent and deliberate efforts. Many memories of Grand Lake are still recalled years later. In 1981, they sold the property to a developer and returned to Arizona.

For approximately the next 15 years, Joe and Elaine owned various trailers and campers and traveled around the US and Canada. Elaine often referred to that as the best time of their lives.

Elaine came to Loveland, CO in 2009 after the passing of her husband Joe. She resided at Wexford, eventually moving to Mirasol Independent Living, Courtyard Assisted Living, and lastly, North Shore Hospice.

Elaine will certainly be remembered for her strong personality, expertise of bingo/scrabble/cards, and love of her faith in Jesus Christ. While in Colorado and able, she loved attending Faith Church, singing her favorite hymns, such as “It Is Well With My Soul” and “I Can Only Imagine”, along with daily reading of her bible (example: Romans 8:28) and Guideposts publications. During her and Joe’s time together, they faithfully attended and were involved with Bethel United Methodist Church, and later Epworth United Methodist Church, both in Phoenix.

When Elaine was recently asked how she wanted to be remembered after her passing, she only remarked, “I have had a very good life. A happy, contented life.”

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 13,2018, 2:00 p.m., at North Shore Nursing Home Chapel.

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