Kovar, Peter G. "Pete", age 73, a life long resident of Anoka, passed away on May 11, 2023 from lung cancer, despite his heroic efforts to fight it. Preceded in death by parents Jack and Rita Kovar and brother John Kovar.  Pete leaves behind his beloved wife of 46 years, Jean (Paquette) Kovar, children Jason Reimer, Jessica (Marc) Gillitzer, Samuel (Mallory) Kovar, grandchildren Madison and Caden Gillitzer, Harper and Layla Kovar, brothers Dan (Jill) Kovar and Pat (Marie) Kovar, sister Maggie (Rich) Stern, nieces, nephews and family and countless friends as well.
Pete definitely lived his life to the beat of his own drum and this way of living could be seen throughout his entire life, all the way up until God's calling.  Pete attended DeLaSalle Highschool.  After Highschool, being the Nature lover and outdoorsmen he was, he then headed to Bemidji State.  However, he decided that College wasn't the right path for him and chose instead to work side by side with his father, eventually becoming co-owner and then owner of Jack Kovar Sales.  Along the way, Pete joined the Army Reserves for six years and became a Volunteer Firefighter for Anoka for 22 years. Pete and his wife Jean, having known each other since they were in grade school, went from becoming friends to marrying on December 31st 1976.  The next day, they were off to Colombia for their honeymoon. This was just the beginning of their decades long journey together. Pete, so it seemed for many years, was on a mission, a mission to get it all done. When Pete wasn't working tirelessly to provide for his family, he could be found at one of his kids' school activities, tending to his yard and gardens, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, making sauerkraut, grilling and making memories at his lake home - including, setting off impressive firework displays.  The mission to get it all done was through his remarkable grit and positivity, cheerful smile and laugh, rhyming ability, sarcasm, silliness, quoting movie lines from the 80's and 90's, and yes maybe some stubbornness too. Pete's mentality to "suck it up", "keep your head up", "keep putting one foot in front of the other" and just never giving up, even in the darkest moments, kept him going to get it all done. Always in motion, unless he was reading his science fiction novels. Years of demanding hard physical labor caught up with Pete and while he moved more slowly over the years and required more frequent resting periods, his core was very much present, even in his final months.  Pete endured much pain and suffering, but he still had that beautiful loving smile, that grit and positivity.  Two days before his passing, he again declined Hospice because as he told the Oncology staff, he had things to do.  When asked what things he had to do, he replied that he had to get his tomato plants planted. Pete has touched many hearts through his infectious smile, generosity and welcoming- outgoing- friendly- personality. What you saw with Pete is what you got. He was the real deal.  I know he will be greatly missed, as will his famous tomatoes and sauerkraut. Love and gratitude in our hearts, always. Please join us in celebrating and honoring Pete with a Mass of Christian Burial on June 13, 2023 at 11 AM, St. Stephen's Catholic Church, 525 Jackson Street, Anoka, with visitation one hour prior at 10 AM.  Luncheon to follow Mass.  Interment to follow luncheon, at Calvary Cemetery, Anoka, at approximately 1:30 PM.