Roko Lewis Govorchin

Roko Lewis Govorchin (80) passed away on May 23, 2008 at his home in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, June 6, 2008 at 4:30pm and the Boundary County Fair grounds. Roko was born on August 16, 1927 on the southeast side of Chicago. He was the son of Joseph and Ivanica (Klarin) Govorchin immigrants from Dalmatia, Yugoslavia. Roko attended St Francis de Sales grammar and high schools. He organized the first student walk out because of a cancelled prom. He went into the service and was stationed at Ft Sheridan Il. Upon discharge he went to California with an older brother who had a small trucking business. Roko spent a year in Guam working for the US Government as a carpenter. He held various jobs upon his return to California and spent many years in Alaska working for the railroad in Fairbanks. again a return to California and began working for Borax company where he served as union steward. Upon retirement he and friends he made in Alaska settled in Bonners Ferry. Roko's hobbies were hunting and fishing and as he said "betting the ponies". Whenever I think of my brother I recall a family vignette. Our parents were from the "old country” with many myths and legends. My mother always told us that Jesus Christ was exactly six feet tall and that no one before or since was exactly six feet tall. When ever anyone queried Roko about his height, his answer was "me and Jesus Christ are six feet tall". God speed brother. A more generous person has never entered my life. Roko is preceded in death by his Parents brothers Anthony, Joseph, and John (who died when the USS Dorchester was sunk in the Atlantic on its way to Greenland), sisters Mary and Virginia (Jean). He is survived by brother’s Reverend Vincent Govorchin, Rudy (Ruth) Govorchin and a sister Annette (Tom) Cwik.