Dorothy Marie Mikula, 96, of Traverse City, passed away May 13, 2023.

She was born in Clawson, MI, December 10, 1926, to parents Carl and Mildred (Hodges) Aeschliman. She graduated from Traverse City High School in 1944 and married Tom Mikula on March 24, 1945. They were happily married for 73 years until Tom's passing on June 8, 2018.

Dorothy was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Babies and young children always brought a smile to her face and a twinkle in her eyes.

Dorothy was a very hard worker. She was a homemaker, worked on the family farm in the orchard and vegetable gardens, and was a secretary and bookkeeper for Tom's furnace repair business. She also worked in the kitchen at Cherry Knoll School and watched kids for family and friends.

Dorothy was a great cook and baker, preparing most things from "scratch" often from things previously frozen or canned from the farm. She was a master at "whipping-up" a delicious meal at the spur of a moment when visitors stopped by at meal time. She would put additional plates on the table and insist that they eat. Evening visitors were always treated with coffee and homemade cookies, cake, or pie and ice cream. There was always ice cream at the Mikula house.

Dorothy enjoyed attending family gatherings, traveling in their truck camper or motorhome, wintering in Florida, polka dancing, gardening, fishing, mushrooming and playing bunco and euchre. She also cherished the time spent playing cards and board games with the grandkids.

Dorothy is survived by her sons Jim (Marilyn), Frank (Kathy), Dick (Gretchen) and Jerry (Nancy); daughter Marilyn (her loving and devoted caregiver for over 9 years); 9 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; sister Sandy MacConnel; and sisters-in-law Pauline and Sandy Aeschliman.
She was preceded in death by her husband; brothers Harold (Doc), Keith and Don Aeschliman; and sisters Verna Munson and Shirley Williams.

Visitation will take place Friday, May 19, 5-8 pm, at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held the following day, Sat. May 20, 3 pm, with a visitation one hour prior. Interment at a later date in Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.

To honor Dorothy's memory, stop by an elderly friend's for a visit or another act of kindness. Other considerations would be donating to the Alzheimer's Association, 921 W. Eleventh Street, Suite 1W, Traverse City, MI 49684 or to the Salvation Army, 1239 Barlow Street, Traverse City, MI 49686.

The family would like to express our extreme appreciation to Tina, Dorothy's nurse from Hospice of Michigan, for her exceptional care, compassion and guidance provided to Dorothy and us. We also thank the staff at Traverse Manor for their care to Dorothy.

Memories and condolences may also be shared on Dorothy's tribute page, www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com