Dale R. Milligan, 99, of Fremont passed away Friday, February 23, 2024, at Dunklau Gardens in Fremont.
He was born on August 30, 1924 to Luther and Lula Milligan on a farm northeast of Loup City, the last of eight children. In 1937 they sold the farm and moved to Arkansas, living there for three years before moving back to Nebraska at Fremont in 1940. During his school years he enjoyed playing baseball, softball and basketball. He enjoyed all the sports. He graduated from Fremont High in 1943. After graduating he was inducted in the Armed Forces, serving three years to January 1946. During those three years he served in Rhineland, Northern France, Belgium, Holland, and the Battle of the Bulge and Germany.
While he was in France he was also chosen to go to Dunkirk Belgium to instruct the British for two weeks on the use of our weaponry, which they had acquired for use against the Germans. In 1948 he married Joyce Brooks and they had three children, Larry Dale, Glenda Rae and Barbara Sue. In 1949 he enlisted in the Army Escort Service, bringing back the deceased from WWII to their loved ones and family, working out of Ft. Sheridan, Illinois and Kansas City, Missouri. After that service he moved to lowa and was working with his brother, building crib and silos in lowa and Nebraska. Later in the early 1950s he was recalled to active duty during the Korean Conflict.
In 1957 he married Josephine McAleer. In 1958 they moved to Denver where he served as a salesman for 32 years. Dale represented a number of companies as a buyer and salesmen. While in Colorado he was an outdoorsman, an avid hunter who also enjoyed fishing and camping out. He later became a member of Operation Respect, a Colorado sportsman organization, later to become president for six and half years, and a board member for the remaining 14 years.
During his tenure their membership rose from 35 to more than 200. He also served four years as vice president of the Colorado Wildlife Federation. Dale and his wife loved to travel and film their trips, camping, fishing and hunting experiences. He was also an auctioneer, having gone to school in 1946 in Mason City, lowa. He did most of his auctioneering in the evenings and weekends.
He was a member of the Eagles, Moose Lodge, Elks, American Legion, VFW and Kwianes, Surrisers in Anacortes, Washington. While in Fremont he had been active in the American Legion and VFW Honor Guard. He was active in the Anacortes Skyline Beach Club serving on the board of directors for three years and as chairman of the Parks and Grounds Committee. In 2007, Dale and Josephine celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Dale and Josephine (Jo) enjoyed 51 years of joyous life together. She later passed away from Parkinson disease in 2008.
In 2009, Dale moved back to Fremont. During his years in Fremont he participated in the Honor Guard. He became a life member of American Legion and the VFW.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Barbara Sue Jones, three sisters, Frances Evans and Alta Holzerland (Nebraska), Bessie McGee (Michigan), four brothers, Leo (Oregon), Luther and Clifford (Nebraska), Ralph (Colorado). He is survived by a son, Larry of Oregon, one daughter, Glenda Rae Vio of Washington, as well as one granddaughter and three grandsons and a great-great granddaughter and one great-great grandson and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral Service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, March 7, 2024, at Moser Memorial Chapel in Fremont. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at Moser’s. Military honors will follow the service at the funeral home. Burial will take place at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7, 2024 at the Omaha National Cemetery.
Memorials May be directed to the Fremont Honor Guard.
Online condolences may be left at: www.mosermemorialchapels.com
