Cowyboy Balk, 51 of rural Stanley, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, July 3rd, 2026 from his fight with cancer. Joshua D. "Cowboy" Balk was born on May 10, 1976 in Mondovi to Loren "Jack" Balk and Rose Rinehart. He grew up attending Gilmanton schools. He married Amanda "Mandy" Girard on September 26, 2008.
Cowyboy was a mechanic for 30+ years and in 2012 started C&A auto. He was very community minded being involved with: The Badger State Dirt Fingeres, the Cub Scouts, Abate, the Thorp Dairy DAys Committee and Mid-State Pullers as well as many other organizations he helped behind the scenes.
Cowboy enjoyed truck and tractor pulling, riding Harley-Davidson, playing dirty clubs, cribbage or euchre or just crusin in the Bel-Air. He enjoyed any mustic he could sing and dance to especially 80's and 90's country.
He is survived by this wife, Many, his son, Landen, his parents, Jack Balk and Rose Rinehart, his siblings Kristin (Jeff) Molldrem, Jennifer Balk, Jason (Jessica) Balk, Jackson (Kristie) Romanowski, mother in law, Lolis Sopiarz, father in law, Dave Girard, his in laws, Kyle (Erin) Girard and Mindy (Seth) Cameron, many nieces and nephews, a large extended family as well as his dogs; Duke and Dixie. he loved his big ol mean pit bulls. Cowboy is preceded in death by his grandprents, his step grandma, three uncles and one cousin.
A Celebration of Life will take place starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 12th at Reclaimed Tavern- Stanley.
