Lake Havasu City has lost one of its early pioneers.

Joe Kovach

Joe Kovach, 77, was not a pioneer in the sense that he invented something extraordinary or explored a previously uncharted expanse of land, though. As Lake Havasu City's first mailman, Kovach brought the outside world's correspondence to residents' mailboxes and doorsteps beginning in 1973. “Mailman Joe,” as some called him, passed away on Thursday while sleeping at his home in Lake Havasu City.

“Joe was a true people person,” friend Tom Crawley said.

After transferring from a U.S. Post Office in Cleveland to Lake Havasu City, Kovach started working as a mail clerk in 1969. A few years later, he began delivering mail to residents on Oct. 1, 1973.

Prior to home delivery, unlocked satellite boxes at major intersections served the populace.

One of his customers over the years was Rebecca Manley, who now works at the office on McCulloch Boulevard. Kovach delivered her much-anticipated postal test results. Having passed, she worked with Kovach for roughly 1 1/2 years.

“He did love his job,” she said. “He was a honorable person who always had a joke. He smiled all of time.”

Retiring in the 1980s, Kovach marveled at the social aspect of his job.

In a previous interview with the newspaper, he said, “I knew everybody. There were only 2,000 people here and, before we started delivering the mail, they all had to come to the post office. I got to know a lot of people that way.”

Kovach served as the local union president of the National Association of Letter Carriers.

A sports enthusiast, he coached baseball and worked on the “Chain Gang” at local high school football games.

“I don't recall Joe ever missing a Friday night home game,” former Lake Havasu High School Principal Pat Rooney said, “a truly dedicated parent and good citizen of Havasu.”

“He was very active in youth sports,” son Jim said. “We played golf together, won a father-son tournament many, many years ago.”

Kovach loved golf so much that he put off surgery to preserve his golf swing, says Manley.

In 1986, Kovach coached in a Little League All-Star game. One year, his team took home the Little League Championship in Bullhead City.

Kovach is survived by his wife Rose, children John of Phoenix, Jim of Virginia, Joe Junior of Lake Havasu City, and Kristen, who is currently working in Kuwait as a defense contractor.

You may reach the reporter at hays@havasunews.com