KOVACS – Alex Mathiew Kovacs Koza, otherwise known as ‘Relic’, passed away peacefully at 70 years of age May 1st, 2019 at Brooks Health Centre. Alex was born March 30, 1949, one of six children, in Brooks, Alberta and raised on the family farm just NW of Brooks. His farming education continued as he hired himself out to larger operations within the County of Newell. Combines and custom combining became just one of his ‘specialties’ here and south of the border. The Horticultural Centre as one of his livelihoods, helped fulfill his appreciation of agriculture. Alex was passionately creative and he enjoyed working as a welder. His own farm [Bar dun Broke] SE of Brooks was his home base that set the stage for many a story yet to come. Here, he could collect and tinker with the John Deere tractors that he was accumulating and planning to restore. He loved a challenge so here he could use his hands to build some of the things that he created in his head – and there were some unique metal creations, no doubt about it. He gained much hands-on knowledge steadily over the years. He yearned to do wood working and antler etching. He dreamed of panning gold in Alaska and so many more things. Forever cheerful and ready to talk about anything at any time, he was known as the ‘go to guy’. He was a spiritual man and was kind, generous and helpful with family, friends and neighbours. It is said of him that he was the best friend and neighbour anybody could ever have. Alex lived his life ‘his way’ – no boundaries. Living his life ‘off the beaten path’ just added to his life story. There were some memorable experiences in Hawaii with close friends and he was particularly fond of travelling down east to visit more of his cherished friends. Alex’ love of Country & Western Music (particularly Bluegrass of yesteryear), never wavered. He kept a guitar and banjo close by just in case somebody dropped in for a visit that could play them. He enjoyed sharing stories of his life in his own particular style telling of his travels and work experience. As a Joke teller, he was known to rattle them off non-stop. ‘Pearls of wisdom’ he always shared with his nieces and nephews which they all gobbled up happily. Alex had no children of his own, but was ‘Uncle’ to ‘all children’. It was the same with ‘all animals’ – lovingly spoiled. With Alex’ health slowly deteriorating in the spring of 2014, he had to tame down his Country rebel ways and settle for a quieter lifestyle which he came to enjoy at the Bassano Playfair Lodge. Here he built new, close friendships and a new passion for card games, horse races and bingo calling. Alex was pre-deceased by his parents Matthew and Margaret Kovacs-Koza of Brooks. Surviving Alex are his three brothers, Tony (Kathy), Ken, Brian all of Brooks; his two sisters, Mary (Ken) Ott of Calgary and Elsie (Art) Kovacs-Koza Cooper of Duchess and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins scattered throughout the province. Alex has requested no formal funeral service. A private graveside committal will be held at a later date and he will be resting at Brooks Cemetery with his parents. Memorial tributes/donations in memory of Alex may be made to BAPS [Brooks Animal Protection Society], Bag 86, Brooks, Alberta T1R 1B2; or at their facility location of 415 1st Ave. East, Brooks. To leave a message of sympathy or to light a candle in memory of Alex, please visit www.thomsfuneralhome.com or call (403) 501-1010.
