Karen Michelle Mikulas passed away unexpectedly on January 26, 2023, at the age of 45, after battling Crohn's Disease and its many complications for 30 years. The family is shocked and devastated, but they are thankful Karen is no longer suffering in her earthly body.

Karen is survived by her parents, Mike and Francie Mikulas of Plano, TX; her brother Jonathan (wife Lindsay) of Melissa, TX; and, her nieces and nephews: Taylor, Aidan, Avery, and Helena; her grandmother, Dorothy Mikulas of San Antonio, TX; her aunt, Patricia Ledford of Albuquerque, NM; her uncles, Steve Mikulas (wife Donna) of San Antonio, TX, and John Sutherland (wife Ginny) of Putnam, CT; her cousins Amy Rios of San Antonio, TX, Emily Vega (husband Hector) of Helotes, TX, Hayley Sutherland (husband Jon) of Spencer, MA, and Erica Sutherland of Atlanta, GA. Karen's memory will also be carried on through Amy and Emily's children: Nathan, Evey, Isabelle, Josephine, Elizabeth, David, whom she adored and showered with affection. Karen was greeted in Heaven by her aunt Helen; grandmother and grandfather, Thomas and Elizabeth Sutherland; her grandfather, John Mikulas; and, her dogs Lily, Belle, and Jasmine.

Karen was born in San Antonio on October 16, 1977, but spent the majority of her life in Plano. She graduated from Plano Senior High School in 1996 and from Texas Tech in 2001 with her nursing degree. She returned home to begin her nursing career at Children's Medical Center of Dallas, where she had spent a large part of her teenage years as a patient. She also worked as a travel nurse in New York City and spent the last several years working with companies specializing in hospital data and information systems.

Karen was first diagnosed with Crohn's disease in the fall of 1992 and would undergo her first major surgery, removing much of her colon, in 1994. Although she would continue to battle this unrelenting disease for 30 years, enduring numerous surgeries, procedures, and a stem cell transplant that included weeks of chemotherapy and the loss of her hair, Karen spent her life spreading light and love. She was fiercely loyal to her friends and family, and to those in her circle, she was their biggest cheerleader. She also often remained in touch with the families of the children she cared for as a pediatric ICU nurse. She showered all the children in her life, whether friends or family, with both her time and adoration. 

Karen's loyalty extended beyond just her family and her dogs. Her other great loves in life were New Kids on the Block, the Dallas Mavericks, and old-school R&B and hip-hop. Karen's love for the "boys from Boston" led to the creation of an entirely new family and support group, the Blockheads. She took trips and went to numerous shows  with her Blockhead sisters, a group that also included her best friend Debbie and her cousin Erica. Her love of basketball led to her intense devotion to the Dallas Mavericks. Karen's love of the Mavs ran so deep she required an entirely separate armoire to house her fan gear. For nearly 10 years, Karen and her mom have shared season tickets, and her joyous presence will even be missed by the ushers and bartenders she visited at each game.  

All would agree that Karen did not deserve the hand she was dealt, but she made the absolute most of her 45 years. She will be truly and deeply missed, but her spirit will live on in the hearts of the many people she touched throughout her life. 

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