Harlan Mikota

harlan mikota
Harlan J. Mikota, age 81, of New Hampton, Iowa died Friday, February 22, 2019, at Wellington Place in Decorah, IA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 27, 2019, at Assumption Catholic Church, Little Turkey with Rev. Aaron Junge officiating the Mass. Interment will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery, Little Turkey with Abby Mikota, Leslie Packard, Jenna Murphy, Morgan Mikota, George Mikota, Will Mikota and Jonathan Mikota serving as pallbearers. Friends may greet the family 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 26, 2019, at Hugeback - Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton where there will be a 4:00 p.m. Rosary and a 7:30 p.m. Scripture Service. Visitation continues 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home in New Hampton. Harlan John Mikota was born March 27, 1937, in Spillville, IA, the son of George and Hattie (Herold) Mikota. He graduated from Calmar High School in 1955. Harlan enlisted in the United States Army serving in the infantry division in Germany. Upon returning home, Harlan married his high school sweetheart Verda Lensing. The couple were married May 26, 1958, at Our Lady of the Seven Dolors in Festina, IA. To this union, eight children were born. The couple moved to the Mikota family farm where they raised their children and farmed. Harlan also worked for the Chickasaw County Road Maintenance Department. He spent 34 years operating heavy equipment for the county before his retirement in 1999. Harlan was a gifted singer; singing at many funerals, weddings, and other events. He never sang without Verda as his accompanist. He was active in the Lawler American Legion, taught CCD Classes and helped coach the Little Turkey little league baseball team. Harlan enjoyed sports, following his beloved Green Bay Packers through the good times and bad. He liked to make homemade sausage, using a secret family recipe. He was an avid fisherman, taking every opportunity to wet a line. Harlan was up for a card game whenever the moment presented itself. He was fond of taking his grandchildren on countryside tours. They would visit the cemeteries where Harlan would talk to them about family history. After retiring, Harlan and Verda spent 17 years wintering together in Texas and Arizona. In 2011 Harlan and Verda moved to New Hampton. He was blessed with wonderful neighbors, many great friends, and a loving family. Harlan is survived by eight children, Bob (Jenny) Mikota of Sigourney, IA, Bryan (Mary) Mikota of Green Bay, WI, Wendy Taylor of Pinehurst, TX, Lana (Les) Packard of Houston, TX, Monna (Tom) Murphy of Bloomington, MN, George (Alli) Mikota of Eden Prairie, MN, Randy Mikota of Grimes, IA, Corey Mikota of New Richmond, WI; seventeen grandchildren, Elizabeth (Jake) Flanders, Samantha (Chris) Reicks, Trisha Mikota, Abby Mikota, Jacob Taylor, Mitchell Taylor, Leslie Packard, Katie Murphy, Jenna Murphy, Mason Mikota, Morgan Mikota, Jack Mikota, Will Mikota, Jonathan Mikota, Grace Mikota, Zachary Mikota, Dylan Mikota; seven great-grandchildren, Trae Keel, Lucy Flanders, Estelle Flanders, Landon Price, Lensing Price, Mikota Liebergen and Francis Reicks; two brothers, Dennis (Delores) Puffer of Lakewood, CO, Bernie (Patti) Puffer of Ft. Atkinson, IA; two sisters, Donna (Merle) Wenthold of Cresco, IA, Cathy (AL) Kuehner of Bloomington, MN; brother-in-law, Bruno Lensing of Mesa, AZ; sisters-in-law, Bea Timp of Ossian, IA, Mary Mulligan of Humboldt, IA, Esther Lensing of Calmar, IA, Marion Retterath of Spillville, IA; Arlene Lensing of Calmar, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Verda in 2017; step-father, Bernard Puffer; granddaughter, Olivia Nicole Mikota.

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  1. Our prayers and thoughts go out to the Mikota Families. Enjoyed very much the Mikota’s through the years.

  2. Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss of your beloved Mr.Mikota. May the promise of the resurrection promised by Christ Jesus comfort you during this time of great sorrow. (John 5:28,29)

  3. Sympathy and prayers to the children and grandchildren. Harlan and Verda were a special couple.. Now reunited in their eternal home.

  4. Sympathy and prayers. A very nice man I had the pleasure to meet, and the honor to be one of the nurses to care for him during the last month.
    Deb Palmersheim

  5. WE SEND OUR SYMPATHIES TO ALL. R. I. P. HARLAN. A GREAT MAN AND SINGER. FROM TIM & CINDY HOWLAND & TIM THE MUSIC MAN PROTIVIN IOWA.

  6. Harley – something I’ll never forget was the other day when I stopped to visit you. Anouncement was made that it was time for rosary in the chapel. . Up and into the wheelchair and you and your daughter with rosary in hand and off to the chapel. Doris and my sympathy to you and the family. Chuck

  7. Sorry to hear of Harlan’s passing. Every time we seen each other , we had a chuckle out of when he threw me out of a Little League game! Such a wonderful man! He will be missed, but know that he is with Verda again making sweet music!

  8. I loved my visits to Iowa and seeing the Mikota clan. I will also remember the time Harlan, Verda, Ed and Martha went out to Washington state to see my parents. My father drove them up to the top of Mt Baker, and Harlin was in the front seat when they were coming down the mountain and Harlin said to my dad “Louie, slow down”! When he told me this story he had a huge smile on his face. My mother had one of Harlin’s tapes of his songs he sang and my mother played it all the time while she was in the car. I will miss him, but I know now, he is with the love of his life in heaven! Hugs, love and prayers to all his kids/grandkids.

  9. Our deepest sympathy on your loss of Harlan! He was a kind and gentle man with a beautiful smile! Our thoughts and prayers are with you all!

  10. Our thoughts and prayers to the Mikota family and relatives. You could always tell when Harlen was around by his distinctive laugh. He taught me how to make contact with the bat in Little League and I do believe I led the league in OBP that summer. And of course, we couldn’t get through a game without an inning when Coach Harlen stated “Ah I see the circus is in town” or “that’s a hell of a way to clear the bases”. Sadly, the circus has left town. The Jiraks in Phoenix.

  11. So sorry! Thoughts and prayers to the family and friends. I think Bob looks the most like dad. Rest in peace!

  12. Prayers and thoughts to the Mikota family. Thank you Harlan for sharing your voice with your community and now you are singing with the choir in heaven.

  13. Our prayers and sympathy to the Mikota family. We enjoyed visiting with Harlan and Verda when
    they were in Arizona. He was a wonderful man and will be missed by many.

  14. My Sympathy to all the Mikota children and your extended families. I am so sorry for your loss. May Gods peace and comfort abide with all of you at this difficult time. You are in our thoughts and prayers. I will always treasure the memories of when we were children and the fun times our families had every time we would get together! Both your mom and dad were amazing servants of our Lord and Savior. They were always kind, always loving, and always a joy to be around! I will also treasure the times I was privileged to sing with them! I would be so nervous and your dad would very gently put my mind st peace. What an honor those times were for me. May the memories you carry bring you joy and May your grief be brief! All my love, Denise (Mikota) Schroeder, David, Carlos, Kirsten, along with Adam, Bryan and Cassie Kerian.

  15. To the Mikota family,
    Have been thinking of Harlan these past few days. Remembering him with a smile of his face, always. and a kind word and his love for Verda. He will be missed by all of Little Turkey.

  16. Our deepest sympathy to Harlan’s entire family. Harlan’s and Verda’ legacy will live on. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Mary Burns and Dale Christensen

  17. Our condolences to the Mikota family. Born with the gift of song Harlan’s voice will never be forgotten and sweet Verda always by his side on the piano. Together once again they can make music for the Lord. Sure enjoyed seeing your folks when they came to AZ. Harlan and my little dog “Tedi” really bonded. The first time they met, Harlan chased Tedi around the house with his hands in the air, scaring him. To this day Tedi greets every man that comes through the door as if they were Harlan and tries to bite their feet! May God give you strength during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Love, the Armstrong’s

  18. Remembering all the fun times growing up at the Mikota household. Sending prayers to all of you at this time. I’m sure Harlan is singing away with Verda at the organ! What a beautiful pair of parents you were all blessed with!

  19. We are very sorry to hear about your father. Please accept our deepest sympathy at what we know is a very difficult time for you.

    From all of us at Concept

  20. To The Family: Sorry for your loss. Your Dad aged so well and always had his smile. I will not forget MOM saying how they got to the farm after the long day in MN. after Kevin’s passing-they woke up that next day and there in the driveway came your folks to share their grief with our folks! They were lucky to have your folks as such good friends through out the years. peace and blessings to you all! Al and Debbie nebel


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