Patricia "Pat" Havrda Miksch

1940-2026

After a brave battle with cancer, Pat Miksch passed away peacefully on the morning of July 12, 2026, surrounded by her family.

Pat was born on March 3, 1940, to Joe and Carrie Havrda in Schulenburg, Texas. She spent her childhood in St. John, Texas, where her parents Joe and Carrie owned a general store, Joe's Place, and where she was raised with her three brothers Joe, Vernon, and Erwin, and three sisters Bernice, Janet, and Shirley. Pat attended St. John Catholic School and then Schulenburg High School, where she met the love of her life, her husband Lee Miksch.

Pat graduated high school in 1957 and promptly moved to Houston and started her career at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, where she worked until 1962. Pat and Lee married on April 19, 1958, and went on to welcome five children: Russell in 1959, Michelle in 1960, Susan in 1962, Jennifer in 1964, and Kerry in 1969. Pat returned to work for Branda Financial Services, where she worked until she retired in 2008. Pat and Lee were married for over 68 years and were lovingly known as "Mimi" and "Papa" to their fourteen grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren (with another due in November), whom they absolutely adored.

Pat had a life-long love of sports, starting with playing on her high school basketball team. She and Lee played on several bowling teams starting early in their marriage, playing with friends in a Friday night league and traveling to play in tournaments as far away as Las Vegas. Pat's passion turned to tennis starting in 1972. She played in numerous leagues and tournaments over the years, was a State-ranked player, and she also passed on her love of tennis to others as a coach of a girls Youth Tennis Association team. And anyone who knew Pat knows of her love for her Houston Astros. She was cheering them on to the end.

Pat had a passion for crocheting. She began with crocheting afghans for her children, then continued with her grandchildren and on to her great grandchildren. She was even thoughtful enough to crochet extras for her great grandchildren to come. Although she tried to pass this gift on to her daughters, they unfortunately were not blessed with her gift and failed miserably.

Over their years together Pat and Lee loved to travel to many places around the world including Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Morocco, Canada, and Hawaii, and also enjoyed taking the family on several trips throughout Mexico. But Pat's biggest love was the family's annual beach house trips to Galveston, Texas starting around 1966. Those trips continued throughout the rest of Pat's life, continuing to this day, now numbering 44 family members (and counting).

Pat is survived by her husband Lee Miksch of Houston, TX, son Russell (Jenny) Miksch of Houston, TX, daughter Michelle (Bob) Pazitney of Houston, TX, daughter Susan (Tim) Lynch of Dalton City, IL, daughter Jennifer (Lou) Eble, of Rochester Hills, MI, and daughter Kerry (David) Muller, of Houston, TX, fourteen grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers Joe, Vernon, and Erwin, and sister Bernice.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made through: The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network