Patricia (Patty) Ann Kukla, completed her earthly journey on Monday, April 15, 2019 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was 72.

She was intelligent, warm, beautiful, generous, loving and happy until the very end.  She formed deep and lifelong friendships with so many schoolmates, fellow congregants, neighbors and teaching colleagues.

A Born Again Christian, she loved Jesus with all her heart and served Him with her constant gift of Helps.

Patty was born in Battle Creek on Oct. 16, 1946 after which her family moved to Traverse City, where she completed high school and started her college work. She went on to achieve her B.A. degree in Special Education from Michigan State University in 1969.

Her loving husband of 46 years, Dale, was home after serving in the Army in November of 1971 when they had a chance encounter on the Union Street Bridge in Traverse City, and were married eight months later.

Patty began her teaching career at Way Elementary in Bloomfield Hills.  She chose to put her professional career on hold for almost 17 years to focus on her passion, being a full-time domestic engineer for her husband and three children.

She later began substitute teaching to help with college costs for the kids, before landing a full-time teaching position with Oxford Public Schools where she taught at Crossroads for Youth and the Oxford High School.

Patty’s greatest joys were spending time with her husband, socializing with family and friends, care giving for her eight grandchildren, and worshiping her Lord Jesus Christ in church.

Surviving her are her husband Dale, her daughter and son-in-law Tracey Kukla-Aleshire and Bryan Aleshire and grandchildren Eva, Lachlan and Baron, her son David Kukla and grandchildren Deanielle, Aubrie and Madelyn, her daughter and son-in-law Amy and Matthew Duwe and grandchildren Everett and Jasper, and her brother and sister-in-law Britton and Alicia Sanford, nephew Matthew Sanford and niece Erin (Aaron) Singer.  She loved each of them with all of her heart.

Donations may be made in her memory to any charity of your choice that benefits children or special education.

Visitation is Saturday, April 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. followed by a service from 3 to 4 p.m., all held at Lynch and Sons Funeral Home (39 West Burdick) in Oxford. A graveside service will be held at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens in Traverse City, on a date to be determined.