Lou Kovacik

Louis Paul Kovacik of Banff, Alberta, passed away peacefully at Banff Mineral Springs Hospital on March 12, 2014 at the age of 85 years.

Lou will be dearly missed and remembered always by his loving wife

of 47 years, Corrinne, daughter Loraleigh, and her husband Sean

Hope-Ross, sister and brother-in-law Jenny and Tony Cools, aunt Pauline Kovacik, nieces and nephews Karen Fraser, Ian Schofield, Cori Fraser, Anthony, Jeff, Cameron, Jason and Veronica Cools along with four great nephews and one great niece.

Lou was born in Radosina, Czechoslovakia, on January 22, 1929. He and his parents immigrated to Canada in 1934 and settled in Fort McLeod, Alberta. He spent many happy days in Fort McLeod and there began his 39 year long career with the Canadian Pacific Railway. The railway eventually brought Lou to beautiful Banff on Valentine's Day 1956, where he took on the job of midnight operator at the Banff train station, running trains, telegrams, and train orders throughout the night. He worked hard and ultimately became the Station Master. In his spare time, he met and married Corrinne, had his daughter, Loraleigh, and made many incredible friends. Along with his lifelong passion for the railway, Lou and Corrinne opened Corilou Shoes on main street Banff in 1961. In Lou's words, this was to ensure that all of the town's women and children were "well heeled".

Lou decided in 1972 that he still did not have enough to do so, he and three friends opened the doors to the legendary Caboose Restaurant at the train station. When the others moved on, Lou continued making the Caboose into the wonderful dining room and lounge that hosted locals and visitors from around the world for 33 years. He and his Caboose Truck (cowcatcher and all) were always driving around town, participating in town parades and to the delight of Lou, making everyone he drove past, smile.

Lou was a long term member of the Banff Lion's Club and loved his community. It was his vision that the town needed a gazebo in Central Park and through his persistence and drive, Lou and the Lion's Club moved ahead with the project, the gazebo was built, and to this day it serves as a wonderful place for concerts, weddings and events run by the town of Banff.

Through all of Lou's adventures, ideas and inventions, the most important thing in life was his family. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, friend and mentor. He loved to make everyone laugh and was always ready to help anyone who needed it. He gave the best advice and provided to all who knew him, a shining example of a life very well lived and enjoyed.

Thank you to Dr. Louise Feddema, Dr. Steve Shigeishi, the entire team at the Mineral Springs Hospital, the Community Care team, and Peter, Randy and the staff at Gourlay's Pharmacy for all of the commitment and compassionate care provided for Lou.

Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, March 17, 2014 in Our Lady of the Rockies Parish, St. Mary's Catholic Church in Banff.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers please make a donation to a charity that is meaningful to you and, when you hear a train whistle blow, think of Lou and plan your next adventure.

Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.