Charles Koval

Pocatello-Charles "Chuck" Koval age 81, passed away on February 5, 2013 after an extended illness.

Chuck was born in Gary, Indiana on May 27, 1931, the only child of Wassol and Mary Koval. He attended public schools in Gary, where he was an outstanding basketball and track athlete. He attended Idaho State College on a basketball/track scholarship and was the Rocky Mountain Conference quarter-mile champion as a freshman. He was also a member of the Conference's undefeated 4x400 relay team. A few months after graduating with a degree in art and history in 1955, he married his eternal companion, Erlene Nelson.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Fort Ord and Fort Sam Houston. He was then transferred to Frankfurt, Germany. After his military service was completed, he began his teaching career at his old high school in Indiana. He coached the basketball team to the State Championship. His love of Idaho however brought him and Erlene back to Pocatello permanently in 1959. After working as the manager of the Karen Lanes for ten years, he resumed his educational career as the art teacher at Franklin Junior High, coaching track and field as well. He was awarded the Simplot Golden Apple Award for excellence in education and retired in 1998 after 31 years of teaching. A number of his students pursued careers in art and have expressed appreciation to him over the years for his inspiration in their lives.

In 2001. Chuck was inducted into the Idaho State University Sports Hall of Fame and was a regular fixture at Bengal luncheons, football and basketball games. His Bengal tiger statue still stands proudly in front of Reed Gym. He also designed the Bengal tiger painting that was used by the Sate of Idaho on the first edition of the ISU license plates.

Chuck was an accomplished professional artist whose original works and prints grace homes and professional offices throughout the nation, ranging from wildlife to LDS temples. His talents included oils, watercolors and pen/ink drawings. He loved fishing and bird hunting and had a lifelong love affair with automobiles and Chicago-area based sports teams. Most of all, he dearly loved his wife and family.

He is survived by his spouse, Erlene of Pocatello, son Rick (Connie) Koval of Reno, Nevada, daughter Geri (Roger) Hernandez of Pocatello, daughter- in-law LeeAnn Koval-Martin of Pocatello, grandchildren Matt (April) Koval of Reno, Dan (Kristin) Koval of Dayton, Nevada, Tim (Celeste) Koval of Las Vegas, Jennifer (Tyler) Koehler of Salt Lake City, Ben (Michelle) Koval of Redmond, Washington, Lisa Marley of Boise, Jordyn (Tad) Green of Inkom, David Marley of Pocatello, Alyssa Koval of Boise, Jason Koval of Pocatello, Jeffrey Koval Jr. of Pocatello and Brooke Martin of Pocatello, along with 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wassol and Mary Koval and his son Jeff Koval.

The family wishes to extend a sincere thanks to Alliance Home Health and Hospice for their tender care of Chuck in the weeks prior to his passing.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 11, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS Highland Stake Center (2140 Satterfield Drive) in Pocatello. The family will receive friends on Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel, 510 N. 12th Ave. and on Monday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in the Mountain View Cemetery in Pocatello with military rites provided by the Pocatello Veterans Honor Guard. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel.