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Michaline "Micki" Sinkula

February 20, 1947 - June 19, 2017
Kalamazoo, MI

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After living with ovarian cancer for more than 6 years, Michaline ("Micki") Sinkula died in Kalamazoo at her home, with family around her on June 19, 2017 at the age of 70. Micki was born the oldest of eight children on February 20, 1947 in Toledo, Ohio, to parents Harry and Helen (Jesionowski) Slomka. She graduated from Toledo Central Catholic high school and Bowling Green University and then went on to earn a Master's degree in biology from Western Michigan University. Micki worked for over 29 years as a clinical biostatistician in pharmaceutical research & development at The Upjohn Company and its successor entities. On June 18, 1988, she married fellow Upjohn employee Dr. Anthony ("Tony") Sinkula, shortly after which the two of them spent a wonderful year in England working at the Upjohn subsidiary near London. After retiring, Micki became a volunteer at the Friends of the Kalamazoo Public Library and served on the advisory board of the WMU Richmond Center for Visual Arts, while remaining an active volunteer at the Hospital Hospitality House garden and the Stewards of Kleinstuck Preserve. She was also a member of the Kalamazoo Garden Club, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, and a local Italian club. Micki's activities reflected her love of books, art, and nature and continued despite her cancer. She just worked her treatments into the rest of her busy life. Micki was preceded in death by her father, Harry, in 2010 and her husband, Tony in 2013. She is survived by her mother, Helen; sisters, Kathleen (Michael) Perlaky, Jacquelyn Slomka, Christine (Richard) Kasparian, Julianne (Gary) Zolciak, and Carolyn Slomka, and brothers Gregory (Mary) Slomka and David Slomka, all of whom reside in Ohio, along with many beloved nieces and nephews and their families. Also surviving Micki are her stepchildren Christopher (Linda) Sinkula of Palm City, Florida and Sarah Sinkula (Philip Moleski) of Hastings, and their families. Micki also leaves behind many friends and former colleagues to miss her and remember her fondly, as well as their three adored cats, whom she cared for tenderly after her husband's death. Micki and her family wish to express their appreciation to her talented and compassionate oncologist, Dr. Anna Hoekstra, and to the wonderful staff and volunteers at the West Michigan Cancer Center. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, July 8th at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th St., Kalamazoo. The family will greet friends for 2 hours prior to the service, from 10-12:00. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (8395 E Main Street, Galesburg, MI 49053) or to a charity of one's choice. www.langelands.com.