Darrell Mikulencak

Darrell Wayne Mikulencak went to the comfort and rest of his heavenly home on Wednesday, August 11, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He faced his illness with a fighting spirit – always positive, always hopeful.

Darrell was born on December 15, 1963, in Taylor, Texas to Dorothy Randig Mikulencak and Calvin E. Mikulencak. He graduated from Thrall High School in 1982, and on December 12, 1998, he married Jennifer Atwood and later welcomed their son, Landon.

The sixth of eight children and the youngest boy, Darrell was full of energy and mischief. His siblings recall his boyhood antics with laughter - breaking neighbor’s windows while perfecting his golf swing, cruising the streets of Thrall on his bicycle, driving fast cars well before his 16 ^th birthday. He was a daredevil - riding his 3-wheeler around the yard on 2 wheels well into his 50s and taking nail-biting trips over the bike ramp meant for Landon. He loved driving his parents around on Sunday afternoons listening to the polka show on KRXT. His father playing the accordion on the front porch was one of his favorite sounds. Landon says that “Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie” is the soundtrack of his childhood, thanks to his dad.

His love of tinkering started in the shadow of his father. When Calvin returned home from work, no matter the hour, the two would often work on cars under the tree in the front yard. His family jokes that Darrell was a mechanical engineer without the degree, fixing too many toys, lawnmowers, and 4-wheelers to count. His 34-year career with Williamson County Equipment Company let him put his problem-solving skills to use and allowed him to build relationships with farmers and families all over Central Texas. He considered himself lucky to work each day at a job he loved alongside his childhood friends.

Darrell was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy Randig and Calvin E. Mikulencak and brothers-in-law, Luke Atwood, and Dave Thompson. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and son, Landon; aunts, Doris & Kitty Randig; uncle, Frank Mikulencak; siblings, Harvey (Michelle), Bill (Pam) Calvin (Nancy) Mikulencak, Alice Finn (Gaylon), Betty Malish (Darrell), Lisa Thompson (Kenneth Townsend) Linda Albert (Craig); Father and Mother-in-law, David and Cissy Atwood; sisters-in-law, April Payne (Jerry Jappe) and Kelly Windham; 28 nieces and nephews, and 24 great nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers

Harvey Mikulencak

Bill Mikulencak

Calvin Mikulencak

Gaylon Finn

Darrell Malish

Craig Albert

Jerry Jappe

Darren Hall

Honorary pallbearers

Jeff Rinderknecht

Mike Rinderknecht

Ricky Rinderknecht