Mileta “Mike” Jaksic

Mileta “Mike” Jaksic

Born in Serbia, Mike came to the United States in the 1960s with his mom when he was just a teenager. They first settled in Illinois, where his roots as a Cubs fan began. Though a man of few words, Mike had a sharp wit and a sarcastic streak that earned him his nickname, “The Cynical Serb”, and made those close to him laugh endlessly. When he wasn’t cracking jokes, you could almost always find him nose-deep in a good book, tucked away in his room. If he wasn’t reading, he would be watching the Phillies or college football, most likely Iowa State games.

He loved spending time in Florida at their condo in Homosassa, where he played golf under the sun, and scuba-dived for sea life. Mike was a beach lover through and through. His passion for warm sands and ocean breezes led him to Costa Rica, where fate intervened. Gina, on a solo vacation, spotted a handsome man with undeniably nice legs strutting by, and the rest was history. Mike and Gina returned to the U.S. and together, they began a 13-year marriage filled with travel, humor, and Mike’s famous cajun sausage.

Mike is survived by his wife Gina, his daughters Danielle Jaksic and Nicole Kenyon, his grandchildren Jack, Dylan, Chloe, and Sarah (Caulin), and his great grandchildren Jameson, Jackson, and Brixton, and most importantly his dogs Buddy and Rowdy.

The family will celebrate Mike’s life privately.