Milo C. O'Dell Jr.

. BURLINGTON - Milo C. O'Dell, Jr, devoted family man, former Waukegan businessman, WW2 Navy Veteran, Cub and Boy Scout Leader, and Waukegan Yacht Club member died Friday 5/27/11, at the age of 88 after heroically fighting illness for several years. Milo was born in Waukegan, graduated from WTHS in 1940, attended Bradley University until his education was halted with his enlistment in the Navy at the beginning of World War 2. Milo was an Aviation Machinist Mate, served at Glen View Naval Air Station, Bremerton Naval Base, and aboard the USS Tangier in the South Pacific. Prior to his deployment in the South Pacific, Milo married his high school sweetheart and beloved wife of 45 years, Janet McArthur. He returned to Waukegan after the war, entered the family business, O'Dell Jewelers, where he became the business principal owner. Milo was also employed as the Vice President of the Globe Department Stores, and was the founder of Prompt Print, all in Waukegan. He held a variety of leadership positions within the Illinois Retail Jewelers Association, was a Registered Jeweler and Certified Gemologist with the American Gem Society, was active in the Waukegan Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Waukegan Council. He was the Editor and Publisher of the "Porthole", the Waukegan Yacht Club's newsletter. Milo loved music and was an active supporter of the Waukegan Chamber Music Society, Waukegan Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Jack Benny Center for the Arts, and the American Players Theater in Spring Green Wis. Following the death of Janet in 1988, Milo retired and married his devoted wife of 22 years, Joan, They moved to Asheville, N.C., where Milo was a volunteer instructor and guide to the gemology exhibit at the Colburn Museum. For 1 year while living in Florida, Milo was a docent at a visitor's center near the Everglades National Park. Milo's passion for his family provided the role model of how to parent for his 3 sons, his 7 grand children, and his 13 great grandchildren. He was both Cub and Scout Masters while his sons were active in Scouting, taught his sons to love sailing, camping and canoeing, and instilled a love for nature in all of his family members. Milo's devoted wife Joan has patiently, lovingly and competently cared for him through his long illness, and was at his side at the hour of his death. Milo is survived by his wife, Joan; Sons Milo 111 (Chip) and his wife Rikki; Kent and his wife Alice; and Brion and his wife Priscilla; 7 grand children: Lynn, Jon (Staci), Brooke (Billy), Kris (Stephanie), Brion 11., Bryan (Alison), and Kelly. 14 great grandchildren. A burial service will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 11:00 AM at Pineview Cemetery in Beach Park, Ill. Schuette-Daniels Funeral Home & Crematory 625 Browns Lake Dr. Burlington, WI 53105 262-763-3434 www.danielsfamilyfuneral.com