Obituary of Ilse Maria Miskinis

Ilse Maria Miskinis, also known as "Mutti", 86, passed away peacefully Monday, April 15, 2019 with all of her children by her side. Ilse was born June 13, 1932 in Mattighofen, Austria to Emmerich and Cecilia Strohal. She worked as a translator at the U.S. Consulate in Salzburg after WWII, where she met Eugene (Gene) Miskinis who was there with the U.S. Army. They were married on December 22, 1956 in Salzburg, and moved to the United States shortly thereafter. They lived many happy years in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Connecticut, and Ohio, as Gene pursued his career and Ilse raised four children. She and Gene retired in Colorado Springs in 1993, and also spent time in San Diego.Ilse's first love was spending time with her children and grandchildren. She also had an amazing green thumb and delighted in her gardening and being outdoors. Her curiosity and adventurous spirit were evident to all she met. Even after her Parkinson's diagnosis in 1998, she continued taking walks anywhere she could-the mountains, the Garden of the Gods, along Shelter Island in San Diego, or through the apple orchards of San Luis Obispo. She had an innate ability to touch the lives of everyone she knew with her inner strength, sweet demeanor and nurturing spirit. She spent her last years in the loving care of Freedom Home Assisted Living in Colorado Springs, we are forever grateful to all the angels there!Ilse was preceded in death by Gene (2000) and is survived by her brother, Emo (Ingrid) Strohal of Munich, Germany; her four children, Susan (Rick) Bigus, Lisa Miskinis, Mark (Sharon) Miskinis, and Patti (James) Bruffey; and her seven grandchildren, Darin Bigus (finance Kelly Bush), Anthony Bigus, Chase Miskinis Hertel, Dani Miskinis, Erica Miskinis, Wade Bruffey, and Weston Bruffey. A private ceremony was held by the family.Family, friends and others whose lives Ilse touched are invited to leave a remembrance below. Memorial contributions are welcomed to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's disease, www.michaeljfox.org