Kimberly (Kopko) Rovinski, 65, of Fairview, North Carolina, passed away on October 8, 2024, after a lengthy battle with breast cancer, which she fought with grace, courage and a relentlessly positive disposition. 

Kim was born on October 3, 1959, to the late Harry and Constance (Raska) Kopko in Highland Park, Michigan, and was raised in Farmington Hills, graduating from UM Dearborn in 1982. After graduation, Kim was employed as a computer programmer analyst at American Natural Resources in Detroit.

Earlier in 1982, Kim met her future husband, Michael Rovinski, and they married in August of 1984. Kim continued to progress in her career until June of 1989, when she and Mike welcomed their first son, Alex. She then chose what was to be her favorite job – a full-time Mom to Alex and his brothers Andrew and Austin, who joined the family over the next 4 years.

Kim was the biggest advocate and cheerleader for her boys and enjoyed the many volunteer opportunities she had with their schooling and activities. Her favorite activity was her involvement with Boy Scout Troop 1699 in Franklin, Michigan. She served as an adult leader and trainer for more than a decade and took great pride in watching each of her sons achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. Kim was an avid outdoorswoman and nature enthusiast, and her own Scouting highlights included completing Scouting’s trifecta of high adventure treks: Philmont (twice), Cole Canoe Base, and Sea Base. (She would have made Eagle easily herself if only she had been eligible.)

Kim also frequently organized family trips to expose her sons to the wonders and beauty of nature. These trips included skiing in Colorado and Vermont, whitewater rafting in Pennsylvania, and cross-country driving tours to many US and Canadian national parks geographically spanning the Grand Canyon to Jasper. She enjoyed traveling and exploring new places, but she never tired of visiting California wine country with her sister, Carol. Sometimes she would even let Mike, or one of her sons, tag along. 

In 2005, Kim rejoined the workforce as an election specialist with Bloomfield Township. She enjoyed local government work, and it inspired her to complete a Master’s in Public Administration at Oakland University in 2013. She was a consultant for several years after graduation before joining GM Financial as a project manager, retiring at the end of 2020 when she and Mike moved into their dream mountain home outside of Asheville.

There, they enjoyed hiking and exploring the many natural beauties of western North Carolina, and eclectic Asheville. Kim always was curious when she came across a species of mushroom, or other vegetation, or some other of God’s creations with which she wasn’t familiar, and delighted in having birds eat from her hand or a butterfly land on her finger.  

Unfortunately, at the end of 2022, disease progression and medical treatment options required Mike and Kim to transfer Kim’s cancer care back to Michigan, returning to Asheville only as her care and condition permitted.

Anyone acquainted with Kim knows that she had a foundational belief and faith in God which sustained and strengthened her throughout her life, particularly on her cancer journey. From her pilgrimages to Fatima, Lourdes and the Holy Land, to her active involvement in the various parishes to which she belonged over the years, including establishing a women’s service organization at her parish in North Carolina, her faith was at the center of her life.

Kim is survived by her husband, Mike, and her sons Alex, Andy (Casie), and Austin Rovinski, as well as her brother Kenneth Kopko, sisters Colleen Kopko and Carol Kopko, in-laws, nieces and nephews. If love alone could have cured her, she would still be here with us.

Friends of Kim and the family are invited to attend her visitation on Tuesday, October 15th, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with a 6:30 p.m. Rosary Service, at McCabe Funeral Home, 31950 W. Twelve Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. A Funeral Mass celebrating Kim’s life will be held on Wednesday, October 16th, at 10:00 a.m., at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 23815 Power Rd., Farmington. She will lie in state at 9:30 a.m. preceding the Funeral Mass. Entombment will follow the Mass in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, with a private committal service limited to family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those wishing to honor Kim’s memory do so by contributing to the Karmanos Cancer Institute.