A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for 88-year-old Richard “Dick” Eugene Milner will be held on Monday, April 3, 2023, at 11:00 AM, at the Elliott Church of Christ. The interment will be in the Hillside Cemetery at Elliott. Visitation with the family will be on Sunday, April 2, 2023, from 3-5 PM, at the Rieken Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold. Rieken Duhn Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Richard “Dick” Eugene Milner, the son of Russell Lewis and Mildred Marie (Rush) Milner, was born January 29, 1935, at home in Elliott, IA. Dick died March 29, 2023, at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, IA, at 88 years old and two months.
Dick attended school in Elliott, graduating from Elliott High School with the class of 1953. After graduating, he worked briefly at the grain elevator in Stennett for his uncle. He then joined his father at Elliott Motor as a mechanic. Dick enlisted in the Marines and served his country from 1956 until 1958. While in The Marines he was stationed in Japan. On August 13, 1958, he was united in marriage to Karen Kay Reynolds at the Elliott Church of Christ. They lived in California until Dick was discharged from the Marines. They then returned to Elliott, where Dick continued working at Elliott Motor. Dick also worked for the city of Elliott, drove a school bus for the Griswold Community School District for over 30 years, and worked numerous odd jobs, from shingling to tree trimming. He remained in Elliott and lived at home until his death.
Dick was an active member of the Elliott Church of Christ and Elliott Community. He was a part of many church and community projects and was always willing to lend a hand. He could fix or build anything, including the house in which he and Karen raised their family. He enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles, woodworking, and collecting: Coca-Cola memorabilia, pedal cars, and NAPA trucks. Dick’s favorite pastime was spending time with his family.
Dick is preceded in death by his infant daughter Barbara; his grandson Mike; his parents; his brothers Don and Larry Milner; and his sister Dorothy Nelson.
He is survived by his wife Karen of Elliott, IA; his children: Sandy England and husband Bob of Treynor, IA; Jeri Croxell of Griswold, IA; Dianna England and husband Brent of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Denise Larson and husband Ken of Preston, IA; his grandchildren: Missy Magill and husband Adam, Bryant England and wife Melissa, Tyler Croxell, and Toni; Kaci Croxell, Madison England, Megan England, Colin Larson and wife Lizzie, Cam Larson, and Tyler Larson; his great-grandchildren: Rylie, Addy, Joslynn, Eli, Owen, Alice, Emmy, Evan, Ellie, and Emry. He is survived by his siblings, Mary Reynolds and Gordon Milner, his sister-in-law Patty Vestal and husband Chuck, and his brothers-in-law, Les Reynolds, Butch Reynolds, and Denny Reynolds. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
