John Lester Mikeska, 83, of Beaumont, died Thursday, June 5, 2014, at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, Beaumont. He was born on October 5, 1930, to Viola Pearl Garrett and John Rudolph Mikeska, in San Angelo. He was a member of the Texas Army National Guard and played the saxophone in the Army Band. John was baptized at Crescent Heights Baptist Church in Abilene, Texas, in 1961. He served as a Royal Ambassadors instructor and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. John was affectionately known as “Sir John the Earl of Berkshire” to his many computer and email buddies. He retired from American General as an insurance adjuster. John enjoyed working on cars and building computers and was a man of great faith and integrity, honest, faithful, hard-headed, and determined.

Survivors include his children, Ann Andrus of Vidor and John Alan Mikeska of Beaumont; grandchild, Sgt. Travis Norman Andrus and his wife, Michele, of Fort Bragg, North Carolina; great-grandchildren, Courtney Morgan Andrus and Meagan Grace Andrus; and sister, Wanda Ortel and her husband, Retired Major Howard “Dave” Ortel, USAF, of Fort Worth.

He is preceded in death by his parents and wife, Helen Grace Holcomb Mikeska, whom he married December 23, 1954. He never wavered from her side during her lengthy illness toward the end of her life.

A gathering Mr. Mikeska’s family and friends will begin at 12:00 p.m. with his funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, June 8, 2014, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.