Pvt. Jonah Benjamin Sovik, 19, died suddenly in a tragic incident at home at 21:07 hours on January 3, 2014.
He was born April 13, 1994, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, was the son of Anjanette Michelle and Marc Steven Sovik. He was later raised by a step-father, Eric Walter Keller.
A resident of Porter Township, Clarion County, Pvt. Sovik was currently stationed at Ft. Benning, Georgia, as a member of the 194th Armored Brigade, serving with the G Troop, 3rd Platoon of the Cavalry Scouts, a reconnaissance division of the U.S. Army which serves as the eyes and ears of the commander during battle.
He attended Wee Care Day Care in New Bethlehem and New Bethlehem Elementary School. He was a member of the 2013 graduating class of Redbank Valley High School in New Bethlehem.
Pvt. Sovik worked as a maintenance assistance with New Bethlehem Borough for a short time before joining the military.
He attended Zion Baptist Church in Reidsburg, where he was baptized, and Hawthorn Church of the Nazarene during his childhood and teenage years and was active in the children and youth groups. More recently, he partnered with the ministries of Leatherwood Chuch in Porter Township and First Church God along Bryan Lane in New Bethlehem. Attending the Redbank-Valley community-sponsored “Snow Camp” event in New York made a tremendous spiritual impact on his life and future ambitions.
Several years ago, Pvt. Sovik and his older brother, Nolan, accompanied a ministry outreach team to Costa Rica and often spoke of the satisfaction it brought him in helping less-fortunate people.
He was a man with a truly unselfish heart and had an uncanny calling to always support the “underdog” in any situation. Thus, he was an avid and outspoken fan of The Cleveland Browns.
Pvt. Sovik was an active athlete and participated in The United Valley Soccer Association from age 5 through age 13. He also played baseball with the New Bethlehem Little League program beginning at age 4 through the transition into school varsity sports. He and his brother Nolan were members of the New Bethlehem Junior League team that competed at the state tournament. He continued his athletic interests in varsity basketball and football and was a multiple letter-winner in the Redbank Valley Varsity Club.
He also very much enjoyed pick-up games of back-yard golf, football and basketball with family and friends.
Pvt. Sovik was an extreme outdoor enthusiast and regularly harvested rabbits, squirrels, game birds, fish and deer and happily shared meals he prepared from his bounty. He had a special interest in catching giant snapping
turtles. He also took great pride in taking his younger brother and sister on outdoor excursions and teaching them gun safety as well as various hunting and fishing techniques.
In addition to his mother, Anjanette Michelle Keller, of Porter Township, Clarion County, his father, Marc Steven Sovik of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and his step-father, Eric Walter Keller of Fairmount City, Pvt. Sovik is survived by a three brothers: Nolan McKinley Sovik, 21, Tristan Josiah Keller, 14, both of New Bethlehem; and Cayden Marck Sovik, 15, of Grand Rapids; and two sisters: Alena Jade Keller, 13, of New Bethlehem, and Kennadee LeeAnne Sovik, 12, of Grand Rapids.
Pvt. Sovik is also survived by his maternal grandparents, Timothy and Peggy Bish of Mayport, his maternal uncle and aunt, Neil and Kristie Bish of Fletcher, N.C., his maternal aunt and uncle, Rebecca and Donald Doverspike of Fairmount City, his maternal great-grandmother, Florence Cook of New Bethlehem, and cousins Alicia Doverspike, Seth Doverspike, Aubrey Bish, Coleman Doverspike and Maggie Bish.
In addition, he is survived by his paternal grandparents, John ‘Jack’ and Marianne Sovik of Bethel Park; paternal uncle and aunt, Christopher and Jill Sovik, three cousins, Hannah Sovik, Callen Sovik and Shane Sovik, all of Brighton, MI; his paternal step-grandmother, Ethel Keller of Fairmount City; and paternal aunt and uncle Holly and Michael Pence of Distant; and three cousins, David Pence, Mackenzie Pence and Landon Pence, all of Distant.
Pvt. Sovik was preceded in death by an infant sibling.
Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, January 7, 2014, at the First Church of God along Bryan Lane off Route 861 in New Bethlehem.
Funeral services are set for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the church.
Graveside services with full military salute will be held following the funeral at Leatherwood Church along Olean Trail in Porter Township.
Interment will be in Leatherwood Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hawthorn and/or Seminole Rod and Gun clubs to be used for fish stocking or hunter safety training.
Arrangements and online condolences are under the direction of Alcorn Funeral Home in Hawthorn.