Phillip John Mikula

Phillip John Mikula, age 70, passed away peacefully at the Battle Creek VA Community Living Center on December 24, 2024 after an extended illness. Born in Manistee, Michigan on September 17, 1954, Phillip was the 4th child of Theodore Carl and Anna Marie (Duchon) Mikula.

After high school, Phillip served for seven years in the United States Navy. His military career began in October 1972 when he was sent to boot camp in San Diego, CA followed by training to become an Electricians Mate. His first duty assignment in May 1973 was to serve for two years on the USS Mobile making numerous deployments in the Pacific. In 1975, he transferred to the Naval Nuclear Power School in Bainbridge, MD and Orlando, FL. In 1977, he was assigned to Norfolk, VA (Atlantic Fleet) to serve in a position only 5000 Americans can claim, as a “plank owner” – the first crew – on the maiden voyage of the newly commissioned USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (IKE), a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. His duties while on board the IKE included overseeing the motor rewind shop. In January 1979, he was honorably discharged as an Electrician Mate Second Class.  

With a career path established and upon return to Manistee, Phillip worked as an electrician at Ex-Cell-O until they closed their doors in 1981. He then earned his Journeyman’s license and worked on residential projects at H & K Electric before he went into business on his own by founding Mikula Electric. His work also took him to Alexandria, VA and to Grand Rapids where he worked with various contractors as a master electrician on large scale commercial projects.

From his earliest days in his parents’ basement, Phil’s inventiveness, and knack for taking apart anything that had an electronic component, figuring out how it worked and then putting it back together in better shape than he found it, is legendary. A living room workbench and rolling toolbox were the focal points of his decorating style. And not only could he fix things, but he was also notorious for collecting “stuff”, whether new, from yard sales or secondhand stores, and just as quickly, re-gifting them to family and friends. If you didn’t leave his house with something in hand (whether you wanted it or not), then you really hadn’t experienced Phil’s “generosity.” The next time you visited, he had already re-acquired the same thing he had just given to you.

A prolific HAM, Phil was always in need of a better radio, a more sophisticated microphone, and a stronger antenna that could reach even further than the last. His amateur radio hobby began in the early 1980’s when he learned morse code and received a Novice Class license through the FCC, call sign KA8RZL. He eventually earned higher and more advanced certifications, which opened up more frequencies and band width on the radio to talk directly with people around the world. In 2005 he secured the most coveted Amateur Extra Class operator license and his final call sign, WU8P, was assigned to him. He amassed an amazing collection of thousands of QSL cards from HAMS who he connected with across the world. These cards served as a testament to his tenacity in connecting to those that shared his passion including talking directly to HAMS at the North and South Pole and the astronauts on the International Space Station. He was a member of amateur radio operator clubs in Livingston County and in Grand Rapids (also serving as President for a short time), was a published author in QST Magazine and he volunteered his services and skills at numerous field events to strengthen and address emergency preparedness in these communities.

Over the years, Phillip also enjoyed shooting; cruising Lake Michigan, Manistee Lake and Manistee River on his small fishing boat; buying, selling, and bartering at HAM fests around the state; as well as capturing beautiful black and white photographs and developing them in his basement darkroom.

In 2015 Phillip moved to Howell to be close to his brother Richard and lived out a quiet existence taking care of his beloved cats. When his health deteriorated, Phil had to give up Spike and Tessie, but they will long be remembered as his constant companions.   

Phillip was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Anna (Duchon) Mikula. He is survived by his brothers, Robert Mikula of FreeSoil, Dennis (Sandy) Mikula of Manistee, and Richard (Debbie) Mikula of Howell; and by his sister, Carol Harris of Buchanan. He is also survived by his nephews and nieces, Jeff Mikula, Jennifer Mikula, Melissa (Bob) Malstrom, Jaimie (James) McGinn, Amanda (Ken) Horton, Katie (Isaac) Mikula-Wineman, Elly (Jesse) Techentin, and Tim (Kendra) Mikula.

Phillip’s ashes will be interred at the Mount Carmel Cemetery in Manistee, Michigan. In keeping with his wishes, there will be no funeral services. To honor his memory, contributions can be made in his name to the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023 or online at https://www.diabetes.org

The family would like to acknowledge the doctors, nurses, and palliative care team at the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital and Community Living Center in Ann Arbor and Battle Creek who have been a godsend in his care over the past five years. The Herbert Funeral Home in Manistee has been instrumental in helping make final arrangements.