Dr. John Stephen Kovar

Dr. John Stephen Kovar, age 64, of Ft. Walton Beach, FL, passed peacefully on January 5, 2019 after a fight with Leukemia. 

John was born in St. Louis, MO on July 29, 1954.  He proudly served in the US Air Force. He graduated from Logan College of Chiropractic in 1981 and was a beloved and caring chiropractor in the Fort Walton Beach area for over 36 years.  He loved the practice of healing others naturally through chiropractic care and acupuncture.  John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend to so many and will truly be missed.

He is survived by his wife, Pamela Kovar, daughter, Dr. Kristin Kovar, brother, LTC Lou (Maureen) Kovar, sisters, Kathy (Sam) Price, Anita (Steve) Craig, Diane (Dwayne) Cooper, and Carolyn Kovar, and step-daughters, Susan (Craig) Basye-Miller, Jennifer (Jay) Wonnell Jolliff, Hanna (Chris) Heavener, Amy (Phil) Wonnell Moreland and Chloe Wonnell. Grandchildren include Jason (Mindy) Basye, Nicole (Melissa) Basye, Dustin (Jessica) Basye, Anthony Eck, Cristina Eck, Tiffany Eck, Kaiti Plunkett, Hunter, Beau, and Dane Jolliff, Maddy, Ella, and Wyatt Moreland and Olive Heavener.  Great-grandchildren include Tyler Ellis, and Ava and Emmaline Basye.  He is also survived by his in-laws, Sharon and Jerry TenBarge.  He was also Uncle John to numerous nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Dixie D. Kovar, parents, Fred and Joan Kovar, step-son, Dr. Richard Basye, and grandparents, Joseph (Paw Paw) and Lillian (Nanny) Kirby and Louis and Heddy Kovar.  

A Memorial Mass will be held in honor of John on Wednesday, January 9, 2019, 11:00 am, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church located at 110 St. Mary Avenue SW, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.  A Celebration of Life will be held after the ceremony at the St. Mary’s Parish Life Center.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable donations made to Catholic Charities, St. Mary Catholic Church or Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Shalimar, FL. 

He loved to travel.  He loved good food.  He loved his family and friends.  He loved his patients.  He loved his life.