The Theme:
The Dance:
The Pro:
Ryan and Karen Kovacs are the perfect match of sweet and spicy. Ryan runs his own appliance repair and handyman business and serves on the township volunteer fire department. Karen is the City Manager for the City of Marquette. Karen and Ryan once lived on opposite ends of a farm field in a small town downstate where their paths would often cross at the four-way stop heading into town. Fate ultimately brought them together when Ryan and his two young daughters bumped into Karen in the frozen food section at the local grocery store.
Ryan always had a love for the Upper Peninsula and during a fall trip to Marquette, he asked Karen to promise if there were ever an opportunity to move the U.P., they would pursue it. With young children and a growing hobby farm, Karen figured they had a good 10 years before they would be able to consider it…after all, pinky promises have no expiration date. Only a few months later, a surprise opportunity presented itself and everything quickly fell into place. The Kovacs family began their big adventure in Marquette during the summer of 2021.
It’s true, Karen tricked Ryan into accepting the Dancing with Our Stars call, but once he found out it was for an important cause, he willingly agreed.
Supporting hospice care is especially near and dear to Karen’s family. Karen grew up thinking hospice nurses had a special connection to angels after her father told her a story about his grandmother passing away peacefully at home. Karen’s father mentioned the comfort and support that the hospice team provided to his family during his grandmother’s last few days. When the time came that Karen’s nana needed hospice care, Karen was reminded of that distinct peace and comfort the hospice team brings with their presence. There is still a part of Karen that believes hospice care workers are somehow connected to angels.