John Rudolph Mikesh Jr

JOHN RUDOLPH MIKESH JR March 31, 1940 – October 18, 2019         John Rudolph Mikesh Jr., age 79, of Park Rapids, MN, passed away Friday, October 18, 2019, at home with his family by his side.       John was born in Osnabrock, Cavalier County, North Dakota on March 31, 1940, the son of John Rudolph Mikesh Sr. and Rose Theresa (Svoboda) Mikesh.  John was the tenth child born of thirteen.  John Jr. moved from North Dakota to Minnesota as a young boy with his family.  As a young man, John Jr. moved from Minnesota to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1956 to work for his brother Henry as a Mechanic in Mikesh’s Sinclair Station.  John then moved to Omaha, Nebraska in 1960 to work in the Heating & Air Conditioning business as a Sheet Metal Mechanic.       In 1960, John met Joyce Ann Shaw whom he married on September 15, 1961.  This union was blessed with five children: Robert, John, Tina, Lorretta, and Patrick.  The young couple lived in Omaha, Nebraska where John worked in the heating and air conditioning business and later owned his own company, A-1 United Heating & Air Conditioning with his younger brother Vince.  Then in 1980, John and Joyce moved their family to Minnesota and bought a hobby farm near Osage.  John worked for his brother-in-law in his excavating business until he returned to the heating and air conditioning business.  He retired in 2008 from May Comfort Zone.  John came out of retirement to work part-time as a sheet metal mechanic for Ulvin Plumbing & Heating until 2013.       John is survived by his wife, Joyce of 58 years; children: John Mikesh (Becky Pobanz) of Owatonna, MN, Tina Harvala of Osage, MN, Lorretta Mattson of Park Rapids, MN, Patrick (Sherry) Mikesh of Park Rapids, MN, and daughter-in-law Tedi Mikesh of Omaha, NE; 15 grandchildren & 26 great-grandchildren; sisters: Elsie Ulberg, and Angie (Dave) Gottsman; and numerous nieces and nephews.       He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Robert L. Mikesh in 2015; son-in-law, Randy L. Harvala in 2017; brothers: Henry, Frank, and Vincent; sisters: Rose Gritz, Alvina Horgdal, and Tillie Horgdal; two infant sisters, two infant brothers, and two great-grandchildren.       Visitation will be held 2-3 PM, Saturday, October 26, 2019, at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home, Park Rapids, MN followed by the memorial service at 3 PM.           To leave online condolences or to view the video tribute please visit www.jonespearson.com