Mike Holub dies from rare illness
Staff reporter
It was four weeks to the day that Marion resident Mike Holub became ill with flu-like symptoms.
He lost a valiant fight early Friday evening when he died from complications of tularemia at Via Christi Medical Center-St. Francis campus, Wichita.
The 58-year-old Marion native became ill June 1, was admitted to St. Luke Hospital June 5 with pneumonia, and then transported June 6 to the Wichita medical center.
Doctors diagnosed his ailment as tularemia, an uncommon disease caused by exposure to ticks. It was believed Holub may have inhaled dust caused by an infestation of ticks, possibly passed on to another animal.
Holub was sedated and placed on life support during his hospitalization. His condition would improve then deteriorate. On Thursday, his condition became more grave and Friday he was removed from life support and he died.
Family members said they probably will never know exactly what caused the disease. There also is a possibility that the disease was coupled with another ailment which caused his health to quickly deteriorate and his untimely death.
A full obituary is included in this edition of the newspaper.
