David Lee Kovarik

David Lee Kovarik, known affectionately as “Dave”, 75, of Charlottesville, Virginia, passed away on Friday, August 7, 2026, at the University of Virginia Medical Center. He was born on July 11, 1951, in Berwyn, Illinois, to the late Emil Henry Kovarik Jr. and Lorraine Meyers Kovarik.

Dave was born in Berwyn, Illinois, where he spent his early childhood before his family moved to Delavan, Wisconsin, where he grew up. In 1965, Dave and his family relocated to Charlottesville, Virginia, a community he proudly called home for the rest of his life.

Dave attended Charlottesville City Schools, including Buford Middle School from 1965 to 1967 and Lane High School from 1967 to 1970. During the 1970s, he continued his education at the Mohawk Furniture Restoration School, where he received training in furniture repair and developed skills that would shape his career for decades to come.

He began working for M.C. Thomas as a Service Repairman and later became a Salesman at the Grand Piano Exchange Store. After leaving Grand, Dave spent several years with McRaven Restoration Company before joining Harris Furniture Repair. In 2006, he opened Absolute Furniture Repair, where he devoted himself to restoring and renewing treasured pieces of furniture for his customers.

Alongside his talent for furniture restoration, music was one of the great passions of Dave’s life. His experiences playing in middle and high school bands sparked a lifelong love of drumming, and he became a well-known professional drummer in the local music community. In 1974, Dave began his professional drumming career with the Blue Ice Band. Over the years, he performed with numerous local bands, including Happy Feet, The Retrofonics, Soul Transit Authority, Rattlebag, and, most recently, Billy and The Backbeats, as well as several other groups throughout his career.

In 2023, Dave joined Evergreen Ministries, where he became the drummer for the Matthew 25 Gospel Band. He continued sharing his musical talents with the group until April 2026, when he stepped away to begin chemotherapy treatments.

Dave was also a member of Elks Lodge #389 in Charlottesville. When he wasn’t behind a drum kit, he enjoyed listening to all types of music, reading, and watching television programs about car and furniture repair. Above all, Dave was a devoted father and grandfather who took tremendous pride in his family. He especially enjoyed supporting his children and grandchildren in their sports and school band activities.

Dave was also an enthusiastic sports fan. He enjoyed attending Tom Sox baseball games and cheering for the Baltimore Orioles, but his favorite team would always be the Green Bay Packers. One of his most memorable trips was traveling with his family to see the Packers take on the Chicago Bears. For Dave and the Kovarik family, “Green and Gold” wasn’t simply a team allegiance but a family tradition they proudly shared.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Brenda Burgess Kovarik; his children, Robert Lee Kovarik (Elisa Kovarik) and Laura Ashley Dean; his grandchildren, Madison Kovarik (Ryan), Landon Kovarik, Riley Kovarik, Chance Dean, and Aulani Grace Dean; his niece, Brandi Johnson; his two sisters; and other extended family, many longtime friends, bandmates, and friends who will cherish his memory.

In addition to his parents, Dave was preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Elwood and Grace Burgess; and his grandparents, Emil and Emily Kovarik and Joseph and Clara Meyers.

Dave will be remembered for his love of music, his talent behind the drums, his craftsmanship, his devotion to his family, and the many friendships he made throughout his life in Charlottesville.

A service to remember and celebrate Dave’s life will be held on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at Evergreen Ministries, 2001 Earlysville Rd., Earlysville, VA 22936, with Pastor Stanley Woodfolk officiating. The family will welcome friends beginning at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in Dave’s name to Evergreen Ministries, c/o Matthew 25 Gospel Band, PO Box 5401, Charlottesville, VA 22905.

An online guestbook is available at www.compassionatecremationva.com

Compassionate Cremation Services of Ruckersville, VA is honored to serve the Kovarik family.