Harvey W. Mikulecky

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin – Harvey W. Mikulecky, 94, passed away in Oconomowoc on February 26, 2021 after a brief illness. He left the world a better place through his acts of kindness, his love for family and friends, and his many accomplishments in the field of electrical engineering. Born on May 6, 1926 in Caledonia, WI to Carl and Emma Mikulecky, he was the youngest of five children and attended Burbank Elementary School and graduated from Racine Horlick High School. After a brief stint in the Army Air Forces during World War II, he attended the University of Wisconsin where he lived in UW housing in the bowels of Camp Randall Stadium. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1949. About this same time he was engineering a relationship with Mary Shinkunas of Racine. They wed on October 16, 1948 and spent the next 60 years loving each other and raising their family of five children. Mary passed away on November 22, 2008 but their song, My Happiness, will be in the hearts and thoughts of family and friends forever. After graduation from UW, Harvey briefly went into business with Jim Novak of Novak Appliances in Racine. Growing tired of repairing TVs, he pursued a greater calling in power systems. Harvey had an illustrious career in the design and development of high-voltage electrical protection equipment. During his distinguished career with McGraw-Edison Corporation, RTE Corporation and Cooper Industries Power Systems, Harvey was awarded over 25 patents in the US and Canada for his designs. Many of his inventions are still protecting homes and power grids from power outages to this day. At the time of his retirement in 1989, he held the title of Chief Inventor. In 1991 he was awarded the Excellence in Power Distribution Engineering Award from the IEEE/Power Engineer Society for “his many valuable contributions to the advancement of high voltage fuse technology, and for his leadership in the enhancement of distribution system protection.” Although he was highly regarded throughout the world for his engineering design expertise, Harvey would readily tell you that his greatest achievement was finding and marrying the love of his life and together raising a family that continues to laugh and love one another. That family had grown to give Harvey and Mary ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Up until a year or so ago, you could find Harvey fishing off a boat or pier on his beloved Waterville Lake, his home for the past 45 years. But even until the past few months he was still getting out regularly for golf with his golfing buddy, caregiver and son, Dan and still playing cards (Sheepshead!) weekly with his friends from St. Bruno’s Church and occasionally with old friends from his prior work associations. He is survived by daughter Linda (Richard) Chiapete of Waukesha, son Randall (Susan) of Overland Park, KS, son Dennis (Cheryl) of Sussex, WI, and son Daniel (fiancée Darla) of the home on Waterville Lake, and ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of sixty years, Mary, their daughter Kathleen, both parents and all of his brothers and sisters. There will be a visitation on Sunday, March 7 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at Pagenkopf Funeral Home, 1165 E. Summit Ave, Oconomowoc, WI 53066. A private funeral mass for the family will be held at St. Bruno’s Catholic Church followed by a private burial service at Holy Cross Cemetery in Racine, WI where he will be laid to rest next to his wife Mary. Memorials made be made to the Make-A-Wish foundation of America at www.wish.org in honor of his daughter, Kathleen. Online condolences may be made at www.pagenkopf.com/obituaries.