Nancy Ruth Mikus

Nancy Ruth (Tyson) Mikus born October 5th, 1937, Berwin, IL, passed after complications at St. Anthony’s Hospital, October 31st, 2024, Lakewood, CO.

She is survived by son Chris (Kay), daughter Katy Copher, grandchildren Andrew Mikus, Mikayla Mikus (Christopher Hannon), Lexie Copher, Kyra Copher, (Father Steve Copher) and great grandson, Luke, as well as other many other loving family members. She is preceded by her husband John Mikus.

She was interned at Ft. Logan cemetery with her husband John.

Nanny grew up and lived a wonderful charmed early life in Riverside, IL. She adored her parents, Jack and Ruth Tyson, her brother John, sister Patricia, and her many nieces and nephews.

She stayed in touch with her early childhood school friends, attending and hosting reunions for decades.

Nancy received her teaching degree from Cornell College in Iowa.

Nan fell in love with Colorado traveling with her parents as a youth. She vowed to return. Bravely, she left her entire family and embarked on her great Colorado adventure. She began her teaching carer at Bear Creek elementary in 1960.

Here, she met her husband, John Mikus, a fellow elementary school educator, married and started a family.

Nan spent most of her time in Lakewood, CO serving the community selflessly as a tireless educator and volunteer. A Lakewood legend.

Nan challenged herself as a lifetime learner to constantly grow. We often joked that Nan was for others, the greatest accidental nutritionist, doctor, psychologist, economist, historian, whatever we needed at the time, she studied, read, and reported tirelessly.

A loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, family was Nan’s priority. Educator, volunteer, gardener. Her energy and selflessness nurtured thousands of lives.

Her everyday thoughts always began with help and service to others.

Despite chronic health concerns, Nan kept herself as healthy as possible to continue to help others. She was ahead of her time regarding exercise and nutrition.

At Cornell, she excelled in sports, nurturing a lifelong love for following all athletic happenings. Nan happily attended many of grandchildren’s athletic events. She looked forward to and loved watching any sort of playoffs, especially her Chicago Cubs.

Nan enjoyed Jeopardy, bridge, gardening, substitute teaching, and the outdoors.

Nan was strong and stern, yet loving and caring. She was our moral compass, our anchor, our rock.

A dry humorist, Nan did not suffer fools lightly.

Her family wishes to celebrate her life this spring or summer in one of her favorite places, the Belmar Heritage Center, date to be determined. We will keep in touch with all her treasured friends, co-workers, club and volunteer family.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to donate, we will be collecting donations at the Celebration of Life to go towards a memorial, perhaps a bench at the City of Lakewood, or the Lakewood Heritage Center.