Ronald E Mikels, age 79 passed away peacefully on April 17, 2025, at home. Ron was born Jan. 30, 1946, in Woodbine, to Alfred J & Mae Leona (Williams) Mikels. He was preceded in death by his parents, Al & Mae and his brother Donnie.
He is survived by his wife, Patti, of 57 years; four daughters, Shannon Bernal, Genny (Keith) Monks, Stacey (Trent) Oldham and Kathy Mikels; seven grandchildren, Tristan Dull (Regan), Payton (Micah), Brady (Grace) and Ashley Monks, Roman and Gracie Bernal and Eliza Mikels; his four siblings, Wayne (Mary) Mikels, Galen (Kathy) Mikels, Karla (Jay) Schaben and Brent (Kelly) Mikels; and many nieces and nephews.
He graduated in 1964 from Woodbine High School. After working briefly at the Harlan pork plant, he was invited by Uncle Sam to join the U.S. Army but instead, opted to enlist in the U.S. Air Force in September 1965. He worked as a mechanic on the flight line at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base in Belton, Mo. and Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Mont. He was discharged from the Air Force in January 1969, followed by 2 ½ years in the Reserves. Upon discharge, he worked at General Motors in Fairfax and Automotive Distributors Inc in Kansas City. In 1975, he began his 30-year career as THE BEST mechanic for Murphy’s Skelly/Texaco in Westport to the entire neighborhood and community. He “retired” from mechanic duty but kept his toe in the automobile industry as a porter for a couple of local automotive dealerships.
While in the Air Force, he met his love of 57 years, Patti Flanagan. They married Sept. 30, 1967, at St. Therese Little Flower in Kansas City. They started their family in 1969, and moved to Guardian Angels Parish in 1970, where they raised four daughters. In 1987, they moved to KC North, where they continued to raise their family.
During his time at Murphy’s and after, he started his own lawnmowing business in his spare time. He was known to mow lawns for those who couldn’t, where payment was quite often a case of Pepsi. He continued to enjoy tinkering on cars and was always the person you could rely on for help. In his retirement, he enjoyed tootling around on his riding lawnmower to the neighbor’s house and cultivating a garden in their backyard. Although he followed his grandkids colleges (MU, K-State, NWMSU, William Jewell, Baylor), he was a proud Iowa Hawkeye supporter.
Beyond his personal hobbies, his greatest passion was his grandkids, going to all their events – football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, soccer games, track meets, school plays, dance recitals, high school, college & Marine bootcamp graduations, family days at Boy Scout camp and diabetes camp, always wearing the appropriate baseball cap for each team or school….on the thing!!
He endured a lot of medical and physical issues the 11 years prior to his death, facing each obstacle with strength and determination with the perseverance of the energizer bunny, never giving up. We want to give a heart felt thank you to the many nurses, doctors and staff at Northland Davita Dialysis, St. Lukes Hospital and North Kansas City Hospital. Because of their exceptional care, he not only survived but thrived and lived well beyond all expectations.
A visitation for Ron will be held Friday, May 16, 2025, from 9–11 AM at McGilley Antioch Chapel, 3325 NE Vivion Rd, 64119. A memorial is scheduled for 11 AM, also at the McGilley Antioch Chapel. A committal service is scheduled at 1:30 PM, May 16, 2025, at Leavenworth National Cemetery, 150 Muncie Road, Leavenworth, KS 66048.
