Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > July 2016 > 2016.07.19 > 01Prev  Next


Passing of John Hovancak, Fair Organ Restorer
By Matthew Caulfield

John Hovancak Killed In Auto Collision

I was alerted just now by Rosanna Harris of the death of John Hovancak.
This Internet report was posted July 14, 2016, by KWWL, Grant County,
Wisconsin:

  "One person was killed after a head-on collision between a semi truck
and an SUV.  It happened on Highway 35/61, south of Substation Road in
Grant County, Wisconsin.
  "Authorities say 56-year-old Michael Miller, of Kewanee, Illinois,
was driving northbound in the semi when he collided with the SUV,
driven by 66-year-old John Hovancak Jr., of Dodgeville, Wisconsin.
  "Hovancak died at the scene, and his passenger, 66-year-old Karen
Cooley, also of Dodgeville, Wisconsin, was taken to the hospital with
minor injuries.  Miller also suffered minor injuries in the crash,
which remains under investigation."

Art Reblitz reports that John Hovancak was one of the finest fairground
organ restorers in the world and did much work for Jasper Sanfilippo.
He worked on many different organs such as Mortier, Decap, Hooghuys,
Voigt/Ruth, and Bruder.  One of his big accomplishments was the
reconstruction of a giant Welte Wotan brass-band orchestrion from just
a few parts.

Matthew Caulfield
Irondequoit, New York


(Message sent Tue 19 Jul 2016, 16:26:44 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Fair, Hovancak, John, Organ, Passing, Restorer

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page