Mike Trace Konkler

Tracy "Mike Trace" Konkler, 63, of Columbus, OH, left us peacefully early Thursday morning, July 24th 2025 at the Kobacker House in Columbus, OH, after a brief battle with leukemia. Mike Trace was proceeded in death by his parents Virginia Effie (Snow) and Harold "Pete" Valentine Konkler.

Mike Trace was born in Columbus, OH on January 13, 1962. He graduated from Linden-McKinley High School in 1980. During which time he attended Northwest Career Center, where he learned to paint cars.

In his formative years he attended St. Augustine, during which he was a paperboy for the Columbus Dispatch. Later on in high-school he worked for the infamous Stans Diner. After graduating he followed his passion for cars and made a career in the Automotive Industry. He began working for Chesrown, during which time he met the mother of his two sons, Terrilynn (Trump) Brown. He spent most of his career with Davidson's, where he worked alongside his youngest son, Van, sister Shelley, and friends who had become family over the years. Outside of Davidson's he had spent several years between Twins and Evans, where he had met many lifetime friends.

He enjoyed spending time; reading the paper while enjoying an Egg McMuffin and coffee, watching Westerns, Comedies, Buckeye Football, Cincinnati Reds and Bengals, participating in softball and bowling leagues, golfing, shooting pool, a fire on a chilly night, having a barbecue, gardening especially fresh tomatoes, playing pinball, boating and just being near the water. He cared deeply for his friends and family. He absolutely loved his boys and his two grandsons. Mike Trace touched the lives of many, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Mike Trace is survived by his two sons Lee Konkler of Ontario, OH and Van (Cherie) Konkler of Etna, OH; two step-sons Ron Martin and Phillip Martin: two grandsons Landen Konkler and Logan Konkler. Mike Trace is also survived by his brother Rich Helenthal of Ashland, OH: sisters Cindy (Bob) Miracle of Baltimore, OH and Shelley Hampton of Grove City, OH. His nieces and nephews: Jim (Cindy) Hutchings, Cherie (Dick) Temple, Mike (Shelia) Hutchings, Kim (David) Yoder, Marcie (Mitzi) Arick, Toni (Mathew) Bliss, Pam (Brian) McClain, Rick (Velecia) Helenthal, Brad (Nicky) Helenthal, Brian (Cindy) Helenthal, Cindy Kay (Jay) Payne, Robert Wayne (Carly) Miracle, Heath (Kristina Cottone) Woods, Tina Byers, Krista (Seth) Turner, Tyler Hampton, Rase Hampton and several great and great-great nieces nephews.

Mike Trace was proceeded in death by his in-laws LaRon & Carol Williams, long-time love Norma Baker, sister-in-law Julie Helenthal, sisters Patricia "Pat" Radcliff and Anna "Annie" Djupstrom, nephew David Matthew "Woody" & Tami Woods, and nephew in-law Mike Byers.