John R. Milnes, the son of Earl B. and Nellie S. (Wiltsey) Milnes, was born February 5, 1920 in LucasCounty, near Chariton, Iowa. He graduated from CharitonHigh School in 1937. John attended IowaStateUniversity in Ames, Iowa and graduated from the College of Mortuary Science of St. Louis, Missouri. After completing his funeral apprenticeship, John enlisted in the U.S. Army, attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He served as a Detachment Commander of the 7th StationHospital in North Africa and Italy during World War II. Following his active duty discharge in 1945 he returned to Chariton. John was united in marriage with Jane Carter on September 15, 1946 at the CharitonRiverValleyBaptistChurch by Rev. Leroy Sparks. From 1946 until 1956 he was a funeral director with the Miley Funeral Home in Chariton. Also during those years he served with the Iowa National Guard as Company Commander of Headquarters Company, 168th Division, 1st Battalion, located in Chariton. In 1957, John and Jane purchased the Berg Funeral Home in Sumner, Iowa. They and their four children became residents of Sumner in September of that year. They later acquired funeral homes in Hawkeye and Fayette, Iowa. They also operated an ambulance service for ten years. In September of 1984, their business was purchased by Robert and Linda Becker. John has been active in the Iowa Funeral Directors Association for over fifty years, serving as President of District #1, and on the State Education Committee, as well as various other committees. Throughout the years, John presented mini-courses on “Death and Dying” to Juniors and Seniors of Sumner High School, as well as other schools and groups in the area.
John’s death occurred Sunday, September 13, 2009 at his home in Sumner from complications of pneumonia. He was eighty-nine years old. John was a fifty year member of the UnitedMethodistChurch in Sumner and served in various church offices, including Administrative Council Board Chairman. He was a fifty year member of the Thomas E. Woods American Legion Post #223 in Sumner.
He was a fifty year member of the Rotary Club in Sumner, serving as president and on various committees, and he was presented with the Paul Harris Award. John served on the Adult Advisory Board for Hawkeye Institute of Technology in Waterloo; the original board for the Hillcrest Home in Sumner; the original board of the Whitmire Swimming Pool, which opened to the public in 1960; he served as President of the Sumner Community School Board, completing nine years as a board member; he served on the Sumner City Council; he was Past President of the Community Club;
He served as the local Cub Master for the local Scout Troop and as District Chairman for the Wild River District of the Winnebago Council for Boy Scouts; John recently chaired “Project Reach”, established to raise funds for Sumner’s new Public Library and Aquatic Center; he was a longtime Board member of the First State Bank in Sumner and was currently serving as Vice President of the Community Memorial Hospital Foundation Committee. In 2002, John was selected to be Iowan of the Day at the Iowa State Fair and in 2009 John and Jane were selected to be the “Honeymoon” couple for Sumner Days.
John is survived by his wife, Jane, of Sumner, Iowa; four children, ten grandchildren; and six great grandchildren; John B. (Julia) Milnes of Rochester, Minnesota, Marshall (Jackie) Milnes and Kyle Milnes; Cal (Katy) Milnes of Dallas, Texas, Michelle (Dan) Chipera, Kyle and Collyn, Arthur (Leslie) Milnes, Joshua, and Mike (Krista) Milnes; Barb (Bill) Holt of Ames, Iowa, Erik, Kari (Dave) Weaver, Ildri Jane, and Kirstin (Khyle) Clute; and Dan (Brenda) Milnes of Vinton, Iowa, Burke, Hillary (Jason) Hunziker, Collyn and Jason Scott; one sister-in-law, Martha Milnes of Chariton, Iowa and many nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Burke, Wiltsey, and Art Milnes; and two sisters, Hazel Milnes and Pauline Price.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 16, 2009, at the United Methodist Church in Sumner with Rev. Vicki Reece and Rev. John Battern officiating. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 15, 2009, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner and for one hour preceding services at the church on Wednesday. Interment will be in UnionMoundCemetery in Sumner. Military Rites will be held by the Thomas E. Woods American Legion Post #223. Memorials may be made in his name and given to either the family or given to a memorial of the donor's choice.
