A Cobb County family is preparing to say goodbye to a war hero.

Staff Sgt. Alex Povilaitis, 47, was killed on Thursday in Afghanistan.

"Alex was good man, and a good father," his ex-wife Kim Povilaitis said.

Povilaitis wanted to give back to his county, his ex-wife said.

He re-enlisted in the Army when he was 41.

She said Alex, who was from Dawsonville, went to Crosskeys High School in Atlanta, and played football and wrestled.

They had two sons and a granddaughter, Kim Povilaitis said.

Before joining the armed services, she said Alex worked in construction.

Kim said Alex poured concrete on some of the area's biggest projects, including Turner Field, the Mall of Georgia and Centennial Olympic Park.

After 25 years of marriage, the two divorced and remarried.

Alex had a step-son and a step-daughter with his current wife. They lived in the state of Washington.

On Thursday, Povilaitis' life was cut short.

He was wounded and never recovered from an improvised explosive device in Kandahr Province, Afghanistan.

Kim said this was Alex's third overseas tour of duty.

She also said he loved to ride motorcycles, and hunt and fish. They are planning a memorial service for Saturday.
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