Roger Louis Sova

Roger Sova, 81 of Cheboygan passed away at Medilodge in Gaylord on December 21, 2023.

Roger was born on June 20, 1942, to Louis and Genevieve (LeBlanc) Sova and lived his entire life in Cheboygan. He graduated from Cheboygan Catholic High in 1960.

After high school he worked at Fox Valley for a short time and later in production at Procter and Gamble until the plant closed in 1990. After that he spent a few years working for Mackinaw Shuttle and delivering Fed Ex packages to residents on Drummond Island, a job he loved.

Roger was one of a kind and always marched to the beat of his own drummer. He enjoyed competitive sports and excelled at many of them, including both fast- and slow-pitch baseball and softball, bowling, pool, and horseshoes. He was a longtime fan of the Detroit Tigers. He discovered golf in his late 20's and fell in love with the sport. He dedicated the next, nearly 50 years, to learning the game and went on to become one of the top golfers at the Cheboygan Golf and Country Club. He was fully self-taught. 

During his golfing career he won four Club Championships, the Northern Michigan Open in 1992 and The Newberry Golf and Country Club Fall Invitational in 1990. In 1993 he was named America's Most Avid Golfer by Golf Digest. For that honor he received a short write-up in their magazine, along with more than 400 golf balls, representing the number of rounds he had played that year. He won the Cheboygan Bowling Classic in 1974.

Roger was a very humble and unselfish person with a good heart and a kind soul.  He loved people and always made sure to recognize their accomplishments while downplaying his own. He was an animal lover and loved kids. Nothing gave him more pleasure than making people laugh, especially the little ones. And that continued into his final days. He will be sadly missed by his family and friends. 

In addition to his wife Diane, Roger is survived by brothers Dean of Grayling, Brad (Paula), Bruce (Brenda) and Alton, all of Grand Rapids and Mark (Sue) of Goodyear, Arizona, sisters Marilyn (Russ) Elmhirst, Indian River, Carol (Marcel) Archambault, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Marleen Proctor, Romeo, and Marcy Wyrick, Lake, Michigan and sister-in-law Sandy Kent of Seattle, Washington, one uncle, Gary (Ruth) Sova of Fowlerville, along with numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and lifelong friends Denny Jewell and Dave Fought. He also leaves behind his beloved cat, Chynna. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother Lynwood, baby sister Mary and brother-in-law Ben Proctor.

Per Roger's request cremation will be held and no service will take place at this time. Arrangements will be handled by the Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service. A private memorial gathering of friends and family will be held at a later date.

Those wishing to honor Roger's memory are asked to remember the Alzheimer’s Association, Cheboygan County Humane Society, Northern Michigan Animal Rescue Network or their favorite charity.

Please share your memories and personal messages with Roger's family on the guestbook, below.