Marvin R. Mikeska

Marvin Mikeska, a Longview homebuilder from the 1960s through the 1980s, died Dec. 28 at the age of 90 at Highland Pines Nursing Center. A funeral Mass is scheduled for him on Dec. 31 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary?s Catholic Church in Longview. A rosary will be recited at Rader Funeral Home on Dec. 30 at 6 p.m. Visitation with the family will follow. Marvin Mikeska, the second son of Charles and Marian Gabrish Mikeska, was born on Aug. 26, 1917 in Kennedale, Texas. He began his education at Denton Hill School in 1922 and graduated from West High School in 1934, eight miles from his family farm in Abbott, Texas. He completed architectural engineering classes by correspondence and went to work for Wm. Cameron Lumber Company after high school. At that time, he began designing and drawing plans for homes. For 27 years, he moved his family to 13 different locations while managing Cameron retail yards. However, he spent most of his years with the company in Taylor and Longview. In the 1960s, he became the managing partner of Moffett-Mikeska Lumber Co. in Longview, and in 1968, he started Marvin Mikeska Company and became an independent homebuilder with a combined business of homes and commercial buildings. During his active business years, he was always involved in the community and his church. He served as president of the Taylor Kiwanis Club, the Williamson County Red Cross Association, Taylor Chamber of Commerce, Longview Lumber Dealers Association, Longview Chamber of Commerce, Longview Kiwanis Club, Longview Home Builders Association, and the Longview Symphony Orchestra. He was also active in Boy Scouting for 40 years, as a cub master, scoutmaster, and district chairman. In 1965, he received the Silver Beaver Scouting Award, the highest national award for adult scouting. He was a member of St. Mary?s Catholic Church, the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, and a papal knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. In 1988, he and his wife Josephine had an audience with Pope John Paul II during a pilgrimage to Rome and the Holy Land with the Holy Sepulchre. They were lifetime members of the Bishop?s Guild for the Dallas Diocese. He worked as a lay chairman for the Catholic Community Appeal and the Bishop?s Guild Appeal in Longview. Marvin Mikeska is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Josephine; two daughters and their husbands, Jeanie and Paul Folzenlogen of Longview and Elaine and Ron Jackson of Lufkin; four living son and their wives, David and Glenda Mikeska of Austin, Marvin and Martha Mikeska of Burke, Va,, Brian and Mary Mikeska of Austin, Michael Mikeska of Austin and the late Tony Mikeska; 18 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. His grandsons and grandsons-in-law will serve as pallbearers at the funeral. Internment will be at Rosewood Cemetery. Grandsons and grandsons-in-law include Robert and Chris Folzenlogen, Brad Osberg, Chuck Burgett, Mark Jackson, Bane Page, Patrick Mikeska-Benfield, Josef, Matthew, Michael and Jeffrey Mikeska. His granddaughters will participate in the funeral Mass. They are Elizabeth Mikeska-Benfield, Denise Folzenlogen Burgett, Michelle Folzenlogen Osberg, Jeanette Jackson Page, Juli Jackson, Amy, Colleen, and Rachel Mikeska. The family is especially appreciative to caregiver Ruth Ann Anderson and to the staff and administrators at Highland Pines Nursing Center for the excellent care Marvin received. The family requests that memorials be made to St. Mary?s Catholic Church in Longview.

Marvin R. Mikeska

August 26, 1917 - December 28, 2007