James Wallace Milden

1947 - 2022

Born in Akron, Ohio, May 10, 1947, to Wallace and Betty (Frick) Milden. Jim was called home Oct. 3, 2022. The family moved to Cedar Rapids when Jim was a toddler, where he attended public schools. He subsequently graduated from Western Military Academy, Alton, Ill. He earned his B.S. with a double major in history and geography from the University of Wisconsin, then went on to Maryland University for his Ph.D. in American Studies. Jim taught at Maryland and Central Michigan, before he went into material management and inventory control. Jim married Rosalie Crysdale, May 26, 1973, in Cedarburg, Wis. Their sons are Matthew (Jessica), Loveland, Colo., and Nathan, Hiawatha, Iowa. Two grandchildren are Elliot and Coretta. Jim’s brother is Gary (Susan) of Cedar Rapids. He has many nieces and nephews along with four sisters in-law. Jim’s hobbies and interests included M & M judging for band and drum corps, selling Christmas trees for the Tuesday Noon Optimists, earning various APICS certifications which allowed him to teach material management classes through Kirkwood, volunteering at Mission of Hope, serving on various committees and teaching Sunday School at St Paul’s UMC, he taught citizenship and English as a second language through Kirkwood, he was active as a Boy Scout leader for many years and very proud of his two sons when they earned their Eagles, and he especially loved making model train cars and buildings. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at St Paul’s United Methodist Church. Private graveside: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church or Mission of Hope. Online condolences and messages may be shared with the family at cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.