Velma Miklus

Velma “Vel” Miklus, 75, passed away, Sunday, August 3, 2008 from ALS at Mercy Hospice in Johnston. Velma was born July 7, 1933 in Bisbee, Arizona to Cliff and Effie Smith.
Vel was joined in marriage to William (Bill) Miklus on February 6, 1954. Vel worked for the Saydel Schools for 10 years. Vel was very active in the Saydel Schools where her children attended. She was a member of the PTA and was one of the charter members that started the Saydel Little League concession stand. Vel had been a member of the Saylor Township Fire Department Auxiliary.
Vel and her husband were owner operators of the Country Market for 25 years. She was a very avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and really enjoyed the fans that visited the market looking for their favorite souvenir. She enjoyed selling produce and flowers as well. The market was a perfect fit for her, as she loved interacting with people. When she retired from the Country Market, she continued working with her love of flowers at Piney Ridge Greenhouse in Johnston for three years.
She was a very active member of Highland Park Christian Church, participating in the church choir, served as a deaconess emeritus, and was also a member of the memorial and kitchen committees. Vel helped serve the youth supper on Wednesday nights and was very active in serving and preparing dinners to help raise funds for the church. Vel was a devout Christian and had started her third reading thru the Bible at the time of her death. Vel was a very caring and considerate person. She enjoyed everyday, even throughout her illness. She chose to face her illness with pride and dignity. She immediately started reaching out to others who shared her disease. She was an inspiration to all who met her.
Her first love was her family. Her grandchildren were very special to her. She spent as much time with them as she could. She loved taking them to church, on trips or watching them in their many activities. She was thrilled with the birth of her first great-grandson.
Vel is survived by her husband, Bill; three children, Randy, Sheri (Steve) Grau, and Garry (LuAnn); 7 grandchildren, A.J., Casie (David), Willie, Tim, Erin, Sean and Elizabeth; 2 step grandchildren, Stephanie and Ryan Grau; 1 great-grandson, Caleb Howells and 1 sister Jean (Skip) Robison. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Marion Smith and sister, Ruby Turner Heiderscheid.
A special thanks to Vel’s hospice nurse, Jan Pickerell and Home Health Angel, Sue LaPlants. Also a “Big” thank you to all of the staff at Mercy Hospice in Johnston. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Highland Park Christian Church (HPCC).
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 7, 2008, at Highland Park Christian Church, 4260 NW 6th Drive., Des Moines; burial will follow at Pine Hill Cemetery. Family will visit with friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at Highland Park Christian Church.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

Print