Gladys M Strassman, who chose to be called Mika, left this earth on August 24, 2024 to join the love of her life, David Strassman who passed in 2015.  Mika was born on October 24, 1941 in Santa Rosa, California, the daughter of Florence Heubrock and Emil Rasmussen.  Mika was blessed with 2 sisters, Kathryn Rasmussen Rohrman in Santa Rosa, Rose Mary Williams (deceased) and many nieces and nephews.

From an early age Mika loved to read. She amassed a beautiful library-size collection over her lifetime, covering a wide range of subjects like art, animals, spirituality, travel and humor. Dancing gave Mika pleasure throughout her life. As a young person, Mika proudly competed and won awards on the state level as a skate dancer, with beautiful handmade costumes.
 

Music was also a great love of Mika’s life. She expressed her passion in many ways. She played the piano and recorder, danced with the Sufis, participated in writing groups, performed monologues, and had a wide variety of music playing on the stereo throughout the day to which she would sing with gusto!

Travel was also one of Mika’s loves – there were cross-country train loving trips with David and foreign trips to explore Europe and Africa.  
 

Mika had a gift of connecting with people. She went on to study nursing at the Santa Rosa Junior College where she developed a deep devotion to psychiatric nursing, which she pursued at Sonoma State Hospital, UCSF, and Mt Zion to name a few. Mika felt especially rewarded working with teens thru drug rehabilitation.

Throughout Mika’s life she always found ways to express her unbridled love for art. She designed jewelry and created intricate beadwork, she expressed her heart in colorful collage, she studied and excelled in Japanese painting and sculpted playful clay animal ornaments. All of which she exhibited, sold at faires and generously gave to friends and family.

Please join us for Mika’s Celebration of Life, on her birthday, Thursday  October 24, 2024 at 11 AM with lunch to follow at San Rafael Joe’s, 931 4th Street, downtown San Rafael
Remember to confirm your RSVP before Oct 8th at:    MikasMemorial@gmail.com

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to one of Mika’s favorite charities.
UCFS Alzheimer Research, The Buck Institute, or Marin Guide Dogs for the Blind.

We thank Monte’s Chapel of the Hills, for their assistance and support.