June Knox Housholder Mikulka

Born March 24, 1929 in Lebo, KS to George and Zola Knox, June grew up in Topeka, KS, attending Topeka High School and Washburn University. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and attended the First Congregation Church of Topeka.

She was proud of the work she did for the Menninger Foundation in Topeka for 25 years in various positions from Southard School librarian to administrative assistant to coordinator of the Continuing Education department before retiring in 1987.

She married her first love, Monte Housholder in 1949, and they had many loving and care-free years together while Monte pursued his PhD and started his career in the automotive industry in Chicago and Indiana. They had two sons, Frank and Dan, whom they adored. When Monte died in 1965 she moved back to Topeka to work at the Menninger Foundation and raise their boys.

She had a second opportunity to find love with Tom Mikulka whom she married in 1981. They loved to travel and spend time with family and friends. In 2000, Tom and June moved from Topeka to Chanute to be closer to Tom's son Thomas Paul, his wife Debra, and especially their granddaughter Alexandra. June loved to take care of people and found joy and happiness tending to Tom when he was in a nursing home. She also looked forward to serving morning coffee for residents and helping out at the nursing home whenever she had the opportunity.

She was an active volunteer throughout her life and she loved to read, embroider and garden. She struck up conversations with people easily, quickly making new friends. She had a fun sense of humor, always leaving strangers with smiles on their faces. June was an avid letter writer, sending regular notes and Christmas cards to a large list of people throughout the year. A letter from her always brought joy and warm remembrance.

At age 80, she decided to embrace a new adventure by moving to Vashon Island with her son Dan, his wife Trevi and their dog, Misa. She continued to add to her large list of friends, this time with neighbors and fellow bridge players on the island.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Trevi Housholder of Vashon, WA; stepson and daughter-in-law, Tom and Debra Mikulka of Chanute, KS; granddaughter, Alexandra Mikulka of Lawrence, KS; sister, Marge Cowperthwaite of Edmund, OK; sister, Mary Knight of New Orleans, LA and 12 nieces and nephews throughout the US.

She was predeceased by her parents; first husband, Monte F. Housholder who died in 1965; second husband, Thomas J. Mikulka who died in 2008; son, Frank K. Housholder who died in 2013 and brother, James E. Knight who died in 2012.

A memorial service will be held on October 12, 2014 at 1:30 pm at Island Funeral Service in Vashon, WA.

A graveside service will be held on October 18, 2014 at 10:00 am in Memorial Park Cemetery in Topeka, KS.

Please visit her online guest book at www.islandfuneral.com. Donations in June's memory may be made to Vashon Senior Center in Vashon, WA, at 10004 SW Bank Rd, Vashon, WA 98070.