John Joseph Kovac died peacefully February 2, 2020 at home, in Kansas City, Kansas at the age of 96. John was born in Kansas City, Kansas to immigrant parents of Croatian / Slovenian decent. Having been raised in a culture built with a strong sense of duty, John enlisted in the Navy 3 days after Pearl Harbor.  He served as a Coxswain for 4 1/2 years in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters of operation. Serving aboard the vessel Abner Reed, his ship was struck by a mine in the Bearing Sea. The ship broke in two and one-third of the crew perished in the frigid waters.

John worked for Colgate Palmolive for 32 years, & after retirement, served as a Volunteer at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Kansas City for 26 years.

John loved to play pinochle and hated to lose.  A trait that endeared him to all his opponents. If pinochle is played in Heaven, John will rush to get a seat to be there. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice, his son John Jr., and his daughter Teresa.

He is survived by his three children, Ernest Michael, Bernadette, & Gina Marie, grandson Gabriel and one brother Richard Kovac, in Fresno, California.

Services will be held Friday, February 7, at Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia St., Lenexa, Kansas. Visitation will be 6:00 pm followed by a memorial service at 7:00 pm.