Joan Bernice Miculka

Joan Bernice Miculka (Joanie or JoJo) of Brenham, Texas passed away on September 23, 2024 at the age of 84. She was born on January 26, 1940 in Wharton, Texas and grew up in East Bernard. After graduating high school, she married Lehnert Miculka on June 27th, 1959, and they lived a happy 65 years together until her passing. They lived in Houston, Texas for many, many years, then moved to Florence, Texas for a couple of decades, finally moving to Brenham, Texas in 2017.

Joanie was raised in East Bernard, Texas where she graduated from High School in 1958. She also went to Cosmetology School in Houston and learned how to become a hair dresser. After spending the first few years of her career as a cosmetologist, she went back to school to earn her teaching degree. Afterwards, she became a cosmetology instructor at the Spring Branch Career Center, where she taught her trade to girls in high school for well over a decade. All the while, she was actively involved in painting, sewing and quilting. She sewed all her own clothes, and even a few hats. Instead of buying a dress off the rack at the store, she would buy a pattern and the material and create a tailor-made dress from scratch. Her closet was full of such dresses.

After retiring from teaching, she never stopped working in her art room. She created many paintings throughout her life, plus many other artistic items such as stained glass windows and crosses made out of ceramics, Plaster of Paris, and colored glass. She also loved to crochet, with her specialty being rosaries. She was masterful at it. Once, I watched her crochet a rosary from start to finish in less than two hours, including the small rosary storage bag. She enjoyed giving these away as special gifts to family members and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lydia and Albert Kubena, and her grandson, Michael Knox.

She is survived by her husband, Lehnert Miculka of Brenham, Texas, daughter Pam Estes of Branch, Louisiana, son Wendel Miculka and his wife Tami of Katy, Texas and son Neal Miculka of Houston, TX, her two grandchildren Donald Estes and wife Jesse of Branch, Louisiana and Paula Knox and fiancé, Gregory Woody of Cleveland, Tennessee, and four great-grandchildren Jesslyn Estes of Branch, Louisiana, Kayla Hastings and Matthew Knox of Cleveland, Tennessee and Lily Knox of Atlanta, Georgia.

Throughout her life, Joanie was a stylishly iconic, regal, wildly creative, loving and resourceful woman. Joanie would travel from Texas to any other state and city to be with her family. She loved her shimmery eyeshadow, bangles, and margaritas. She made dresses, vests, outfit accents, painted portraits, designed hair, and she was a walking piece of art.

The family would like to thank Wendy & Morgan with Acara Hospice and Angie Martinez for the care and compassion they showed our loved one in her final days. These ladies were wonderful with her and took great care to see that she was comfortable and had what she needed during the day & night.

Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of life on Wednesday, October 2nd from 5 PM to 8 PM at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest on Thursday, October 3rd, with services beginning at 11 AM. Interment to follow at noon at Forest Park Lawndale, Houston, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to Holy Cross Catholic Church in East Bernard, Texas.