Thomas William Kovac

In Loving Memory of

Thomas William Kovac

Thomas William Kovac, 78, of Fresno, California, passed away peacefully on February 2, 2026, surrounded by the love of his wife and son.

Tom was born on December 15, 1947, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Carl J. and Carol J. (née Zeman) Kovac. He lived a full and meaningful life—one shaped by hard work, curiosity, a deep sense of adventure, and passion for helping others find their way.

While attending The Ohio State University, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, Tom met his devoted wife, Karen Keller. They were married on June 20, 1970, and they welcomed son Lanson in 1986. Together, Tom and Karen took great pride in helping Lanson see the world and experience life around him. They explored new places, embraced new experiences, and built a lifetime of memories rooted in love and adventure.

Following college, Tom began his career with the Michigan Department of Health in Lansing. Soon after, seeking warmer weather and new challenges, he accepted a new position with the California Department of Health in Fresno. There, he built a distinguished career in water quality, sanitary engineering, and toxic substances control management. Tom was widely respected for his expertise, integrity, and unwavering commitment to protecting public health.

Beyond his career, Tom found joy in music, playing taiko drums with passion and energy. He believed deeply in second chances and the power of quiet encouragement. He devoted his time to mentoring at risk young boys who had lost direction, offering guidance, encouragement, and hope when it mattered most. Sometimes they just needed a consistent friend in their life that provided a listening ear and spent time with them, and Tom provided that unassuming friendship.

Tom also loved moments of solitude, and he spent many hours tinkering around at his happy place, which was his ranch near the Madera foothills. He also treasured the sights and sounds of the central coast and spent many hours walking on the beach, wine tasting, enjoying seafood, exploring back roads and checking up on his rental properties there.

To Karen, Tom was a partner in every sense of the word. Their life together was filled with shared adventures, road trips to new places, and countless quiet moments that made up a strong and steady love. To Lanson, he was a constant loving father - supportive, encouraging, and proud in ways that didn’t always need words.

If you knew Tom, you knew his calculated, determined presence. He was often the one really listening. He had a way of making people feel seen, heard, and valued, without drawing attention to himself.

Tom moved through life with curiosity and intention. He loved learning, solving problems, and doing work that mattered because it helped people live safer, healthier lives. He took pride in his career, and had a strong work ethic that recognized the value of hard work and persistence.

We will miss his steady presence, his outspoken opinions, his thoughtful questions, and the self expression he brought into every day life. His influence lives on in the people he loved, the lives he touched, and the example he set. Tom worked hard, and he made the world a little better in many ways and more unique simply by being in it.

Tom is survived by his devoted wife, Karen; his son, Lanson; daughter-in-law, April; and his beloved grandchildren, Emerson, Everly, and Declan. He is also survived by his brother Kurt of Clovis, California; sister Jeanenne of Clovis, California; and brother Bill and wife, Diane, of Cleveland, Ohio.

The family would like to thank the Clovis Cancer Institute staff, and in particular his oncologist, Dr. Haifaa Abdulhaq, for their expertise, dedication, professionalism, and kindness.

The family would encourage donations to be made to any cancer hospital or research center in Tom’s memory.