Harlan J. Mikota, 81
Harlan J. Mikota, age 81 of New Hampton, died Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, at Wellington Place in Decorah.A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, at Assumption Catholic Church, Little Turkey, with the 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 from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton where there will be a 4 p.m. Rosary and a 7:30 p.m. Scripture Service. Visitation continues from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home in New Hampton.Harlan John Mikota was born March 27, 1937, in Spillville, 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. 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, Bryan (Mary) Mikota of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Wendy Taylor of Pinehurst, Texas, Lana (Les) Packard of Houston, Texas, Monna (Tom) Murphy of Bloomington, Minnesota, George (Alli) Mikota of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Randy Mikota of Grimes, and Corey Mikota of New Richmond, Wisconsin; 17 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, and 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, Colorado, and Bernie (Patti) Puffer of Ft. Atkinson; two sisters, Donna (Merle) Wenthold of Cresco, and Cathy (AL) Kuehner of Bloomington, Minnesota; brother-in-law, Bruno Lensing of Mesa, Arizona; and sisters-in-law, Bea Timp of Ossian, Mary Mulligan of Humboldt, Esther Lensing of Calmar, Marion Retterath of Spillville, and Arlene Lensing of Calmar.He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Verda in 2017; step-father, Bernard Puffer; and granddaughter, Olivia Nicole Mikota.
