Dennis Craig Mikula Sr.

Dennis Craig Mikula Sr. passed away on June 14, 2021.

Dennis was born in Sugar Creek, Missouri to Sue and Joseph Mikula on August 24, 1980. He attended St. Anne’s Elementary, William Chrisman High School, and St. Mary’s High School in Sugar Creek, Missouri. Dennis married Shontay Osterman on February 14, 2020. He had decided that if the Chiefs could actually win the Super Bowl, then it was actually time for them to tie the knot. After many years of various jobs including maintenance and being a courier driver, Dennis found his dream job of a Database Administrator. He loved what he did and was very grateful that his job allowed him the ability and flexibility to help his family, friends, and neighbors.

Dennis was a man of many talents and interests. Many of those interests were sparked in his early years from his passion he had for the Boy Scouts of America at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation. He earned the rank of Eagle in 1997 and was a Fire Builder in the tribe of Mic-O-Say. Dennis loved gaming of all sorts. From board games, to video games, to role-playing games. It was through those games that Dennis met so many of the people he would call friends and family. For decades he was a member of the Camarilla and Minds-Eye-Society where he played roles of vampires, werewolves, and other fantastic creatures.

Through those same friends, he discovered Brittanis LARP where he immersed himself in an Arthurian roleplay defending the lands from the evils of the realms. It was there he joyously embraced the role of Keeper of the Land and kindled his passion for landscaping. In the last years of his life, Dennis’s biggest passion was his tractor. If you did not own a Kubota, he would try to convince you you needed one. He didn’t hesitate to volunteer his services to his friends and neighbors, and found any reason to use his tractor around the house. A loving father, Dennis’ two sons, Chris and Dennis Jr. will carry on the Mikula name and legacy. He always made time to teach them skills and life lessons and he will always be remembered as a compassionate father.

Dennis was preceded in death by his father, Joseph M. Mikula; grandparents, Andrew J. Mikula, Mary L. Mikula, Russell (Ducky) McBee and Lucille McBee; aunts, Patricia Westover and Gloria Laning; uncles, Billy Mikula and Mikey Rodak, and cousin Marsha Laning. He leaves behind his loving wife, Shontay (Osterman) Mikula; son, Christopher Young, of the home, son, Dennis (DJ) Mikula Jr. and step-daughter, Katie Collins of Independence, Missouri; his loving mother, Sue (McBee) Mikula of Sugar Creek along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

A visitation to honor Dennis will be held on Saturday, June 19, from 12-2 p.m., with a Celebration of Life to follow, at 2 p.m., both at the Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th Street in Independence, MO. The service will be livestreamed via Speaks Chapels page for those who would like to virtually attend his service. In Dennis’ memory, the family suggests contributions to be made to a higher education fund for Chris and DJ.

The family would like to invite all to a dinner and celebration of Dennis at the Masonic Lodge following the service.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel 816-373-3600).