Jennifer Mikeska

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

Jennifer Leigh Mikeska, of Splitlog, Missouri, departed this life at the age of 56 on June 27th, 2021. She passed while surrounded by family in the comfort of her home after fiercely battling pancreatic cancer.

Jennifer began her earthly journey on July 24th, 1964 in Fort Knox, KY, the baby of seven born to the union of the late Paul Edward Tuomala and Lena Faye (Grife) Tuomala. She was raised in Splitlog, Missouri on land that her family had occupied for over 100 years. 

She was a graduate of Neosho High School and went on to build her career facilitating and administering operations for several Missouri government and private entities. She was passionate about serving her community and was fortunate enough to retire at the young age of 54!

She married the love of her life, Chris Mikeska, on April 30th, 1982 at Splitlog Baptist Church in Anderson, Missouri where she remained a member. They moved to the same property she grew up on in 1991 and her husband built their forever home on the plot of land that her dad dubbed “the park”. She adored their house on the hill with big windows watching the seasons change.

Jennifer and Chris loved to travel and purchased a small piece of property in Cameron, Louisiana. There she learned to love the ocean and spent countless hours strolling the beach collecting seashells and sea glass. They planned to spend winters there and also made many new friends. She rarely met a stranger, making connections in the resort pool, at the store register, in the hotel lobby, etc.

Jennifer is survived by her husband of 39 years, Chris Mikeska of the home; three children, Jessica Zeiss and husband Joey, of Indianapolis, Indiana, Sam Evans and husband Kyle of Gravette, Arkansas, and Alex Mikeska and wife Carley of Joplin, Missouri; and seven grandchildren, Boston, Andrew, Benjamin, Harper, August, Taysom and Concord.

The family will hold a memorial service on Friday, July 2nd, 2021 at 1:00 PM at Splitlog Baptist Church, 3670 Splitlog Rd, Goodman, MO 64843. Arrangements are under the direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Missouri.