Paul J. Hovanec, 54, passed away on Friday, Dec. 24, 2021, at Butler Memorial Hospital after a lengthy battle in the ICU with COVID-19.

Paul was born Oct. 9, 1967, in Burlington, Iowa, before moving to Freedom, Pa., as a little boy. He graduated from Ambridge High School in 1986, and went on to technical school at the Pennsylvania Gunsmith School in Avalon, Pa.

Paul worked a variety of jobs, and spent the last nine years as a technician at Mitsubishi Electric Power Products Inc. in Warrendale.

Paul had lived in Butler County for 22 years with his wife and daughters.

Paul loved all kinds of music and movies, sailing ships and pirates, tabletop gaming such as “Dungeons & Dragons,” telling bad jokes, and attending the choir concerts, plays and musicals his daughters were involved in at school. What Paul loved the most in the whole world was his family.

Paul is survived by his wife of 20 years, Lori (Snyder) Hovanec; his daughters, Gabrielle and Katrina Hovanec; his parents, Paul R. and Charlotte Hovanec; his brothers, Kenneth (Gayle) Hovanec and Andrew (Rachel) Hovanec; and two nephews and a niece.

The Hovanec family wishes to express their thanks and gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff in the ICU of Butler Memorial Hospital for their kindness, compassion, support and care to Paul and their family while he was in their care.

HOVANEC — The family will have a private memorial at a later date for Paul J. Hovanec, who died Friday, Dec. 24, 2021.

All services are being handled by SPENCER D. GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, 140 New Castle Road, Butler.

Please visit www.spencerdgeibel.com.