Leona Irene Michaelis

Leona Michaelis began her life's journey on May 22, 1931, on a farm near Banner, Oklahoma.  Her parents were William and Margaret Biller.  Her siblings were Johanna (deceased) married to Roydale Bollinger (deceased), Lois (deceased)  married to James Lagaly (deceased), Esther Biller, Joseph Biller married to Kathy Elmenhorst (deceased), and Doyle married to Francine Galiastro (deceased).   She was married to Perry Michaelis and was a mother to two children Matthew married to Amy Deetz (Boulder, CO), and Mona married to Robert Hall (Los Alamos, NM), and a grandmother to three grandsons:  Benjamin Hall married to Aimée Perera (Overland Park, KS), Joseph Hall married to Marie Turano (Chicago, IL), and Matthew Hall (Frisco, TX).

She was proud of the education she obtained, which spanned from a rural school in Oklahoma to a BS in education from the University of Oklahoma.    She met her husband, Perry Michaelis, while teaching in Golden, CO.  They married in El Reno, OK on June 3, 1959, and celebrated a life of 65 years together.  The first 17 years she accompanied her husband on various oversees assignments in Turkey, Venezuela, Colombia, France, Nigeria, Iran, and Tunisia.   During this period, she lived through several earthquakes and revolutions.  She was of strong Catholic faith and always found a place for her family to worship.   In 1976 she returned to the USA so her children could graduate from American high schools.  She lived in the Dallas area until her husband retired at which time they purchased property in Caddo, OK.  They lived there for more than 30 years, and then returned home to Yukon, OK in 2023.  Her final journey was to the Integris Hospice in OKC, OK where she passed away peacefully on July 1, 2024 at the age of 93.

She was very active in church, cared deeply about her family, had a soft spot for animals, was a great cook, and was excellent at listening to others.  She had a zeal for life and will be missed.

A Rosary will be held at 9:15 A.M., Friday, July 05, 2024 at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church in Yukon, Oklahoma. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, July 05, 2024 at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church in Yukon, Oklahoma with Interment at 1:00 P.M., Friday, July 05, 2024 at Holy Trinity Cemetery in Okarche, Oklahoma.