WILLIAM MILLNER

Lt Col William Engel Millner, Phdmh 5/13/1920 ~ 3/25/2011 William E. Millner passed away in Salt Lake City attended by his daughter and granddaughter and surrounded by the love of his two daughters, five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren who will always remember and love him as their brilliant, irreverent and unconventional "Grandpa Bill." During the past 23 years, since the death of his beloved wife, Millie, Bill has been a resident of Pocatello, Idaho; Tucson, Arizona; Madison, Wisconsin; and Salt Lake City, Utah. In each location, he quickly made a home, made friends, and made a difference to the community with contributions too numerous to recite. This transience parallels his earlier years, first in the military and later as a college professor. Bill was an active participant in important events that shaped America in the 20th century. As a child, Bill witnessed Dust Bowl; Farm Depression; Great Depression; and his mother, an RN and sole supporter of her family, as she cast her first election ballot. As career military Air Force lieutenant colonel with 28 years his assignment in paradise changed as he dodged bullets during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Including the Cold War, he participated in four wars and his experiences put him ever after on the side of piece. As an academician PHD in Computer Science and professor at Idaho State University Bill was a lifetime student of any and all subjects his family's personal "google." His graduate degrees were in computer science another 20th century event of profound consequence. Bill and, Millie, made the family's many moves learning adventures rather than traumatic dislocations. Their home was also a refuge of fun for their daughters and for all their friends, young and old. As grandparents Bill and Millie were the best because now they had the luxury of time. Millie would plan adventures and Bill would implement the plans. And letters nobody wrote letters like Bill. The grandsons and their fraternity brothers would pass around Grandpa Bill's funny, irreverent and intelligent letters as soon as received. And poetry he captured important occasions with the perfect verse. Bill was preceded by his wife of 48 years, Millie Hussong Millner; mother, Marie Engel Millner; and father, William Donald Millner. He is survived by daughters: Regina Millner (Madison, Wisconsin) and Nancy Millner McCoy (Pocatello, Idaho); grandchildren: Eric and (Suzanne) Speichinger, Steven and (Alison) Speichinger, Gregg William and (Anna) Speichinger, Sean McCoy, Molly McCoy-Nalder and (Michael Nalder); and his great-grandchildren: Michayla (9), Kelly (9), Bradford William (8), Maxwell (8), Amelia (6), Andrew William (5), Connor (3), and Samuel (2). The family would like to thank all the staff at the Salt Lake City United States Veterans Home for their loving care during his last years. And a special thanks to Donna, community volunteer, whose weekly visits filled Bill's last year with happiness. Donna describes them as: "Wednesday with my Bill": during which he told stories and she glimpsed a world before her time. A private memorial service at a date to be announced. Tributes to Bill may go to the Activity Fund of the US Veteran's Home at Salt Lake City, Utah.