Teresa Evelyn Mielke

Lifelong Alaskan Teresa Evelyn Mielke, 60, died at home Dec. 19, 2011, after living with cancer for 15 years.

Born in Palmer Feb. 1, 1951, Teresa grew up on a potato farm and felt the ground shake in 1964. After graduating from Palmer High School in 1968, she attended Southern Oregon University and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She was married to George Ziegler in 1970, residing in Fairbanks and Adak. They divorced in 1974.

Teresa moved to Anchorage, where she completed her degree in English at the University of Alaska Anchorage. After graduation, she began working at R&R Reporting as a court reporter. Several years later, she and Donna Romerdahl formed Gemini Reporting Services, providing deposition and transcription services to local attorneys and courts. She continued as the sole proprietor of the business (later TM Transcribing) from about 1990 until her death.

Teresa met and lived with Terry Schleppegrell from 1988 to 1990. They had one son, Jackson Mielke Schleppegrell, in 1989.

In the 1980s, she bred Himalayan cats and showed them competitively in Anchorage and the Lower 48. Throughout her life she was an avid bridge player and was active in the Anchorage Bridge Club. In the 1990s, she developed a strong interest in flower gardening, which led to many new friendships. She was a member of several book clubs and loved discussing murder mysteries with fellow devotees in Sisters in Crime.

Teresa is survived by her son, Jackson Schleppegrell of Anchorage; her mother, Evelyn J. (Foster) Mielke of Palmer; brother, Bob (Terri) Mielke of Wasilla; sister, Marie (James) Dryden of Anchorage; sister, Gwen (Jon) Erwin of Tallahassee; and many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death was her father, Robert C. Mielke of Palmer.

The family will hold a memorial service at the Anchorage Bridge Club, 639 W. International Airport Road, Unit 10, at 2 p.m., Dec. 28 with refreshments afterward. Final arrangements are being handled by the Cremation Society of Alaska.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a charity in her name.