John A. Milko

John A. Milko died on February 19, 2026 at the Presbyterian Senior Living rehabilitation facility in Doylestown, PA. He was 67 years old. He was the beloved husband of Eileen Costello Milko for almost 40 years. He was the much loved father of John P. Milko and Daniel M. Milko.

John was the son of Ruth Milko Widenhofer and Albert J. Milko, a decorated WWII veteran of "The Bulge" who died early in John's life. His mother remarried Jake Widenhofer, his beloved step-dad and best man. He has 10 siblings. He attended St. Fidelis Seminary High School, a boarding school in Herman, PA along with two brothers. He was profoundly grateful to the Capuchin Friars of St. Fidelis for the excellent educational and moral foundation that he received there and carried forward into the rest of his life. He thought of his classmates as his brothers all his life. In his senior year, he was selected for the 1976 WPIAL All State soccer team. He attended the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and played soccer for a year, but that gave way to his job in the printing shop under the tutelage of former Marine sergeant Jack Fetchko. He studied sociology and interned in a social work position that became his first professional employment. He was a brother in the Lambda Sigma Rho fraternity, and maintained those close friendships over the years, having hosted the guys at his home as late as the Fall of 2025.

It was at UPJ where he met his wife of almost 40 years, Eileen Costello Milko. It was an immediate and loving connection that lasted through three years of her attendance in law school until they could be married at Queen of the Universe by John Petrikovic, OFM Cap in Levittown, PA in 1986. His sons, John and Dan, were born there and baptized at Queen by Ben Rigotti, OFM Cap. John was a Eucharistic minister there and called on the sick of the parish. He and Eileen volunteered as guides for the pre-cana program as well. It was during this time that he became a sales representative for Shaw Industries flooring and eventually bought his own store, Walls and All, in Malvern, PA. They moved to Doylestown to be closer to his talented and loving sister-in-law, Kay Mosso, who was director of the daycare center his children attended. After ten busy years he closed his business and returned to social work at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, a job that he said was his most rewarding employment, until his retirement.

To really know John was to understand he was always a Capuchin Franciscan at heart: he saw the joy and awe of life in God's great gifts all around us. He led with a joke and laughter, and lived the Beatitudes. He was a fierce advocate for the vulnerable, and a reminder to his more privileged friends of their obligations. He had some remarkable stories along those lines, with maybe the most unlikely being assisting his Irish wallpaper sales representative in getting her cousin released from prison in Northern Ireland through the intervention of a Capuchin brother, Jack Healey, who was the former director of Amnesty International. But he was just as likely to make sure a boy who recently lost his father was placed on his basketball or baseball team so he could coach him and counsel him through the loss. He had a knack for consoling people in their grief and never hesitated to make that call. "Be not afraid."

John was a member of Lulu Country Club for over 30 years and board member. He took great pride in the fact that he and both his sons won a couple of father-son tournaments against some stiff competition there. He loved music and theater, Vinnie Happ's barn and Jim Wilkins' great laugh. His patio was a gathering place for the neighborhood family he loved and was honored to entertain over the years on an almost year round basis. He wanted them to know that in their hurried lives, they could stop and get a good meal at the Milkos. The pain he experienced over the last few decades, like pure natural carbon under pressure producing diamonds, served only to clarify his earthly purpose and sparkling gifts. His very supportive in-laws, Maureen and Marc Oliveri, Kay and Dave Mosso and Kevin Costello, knew this about him.

John was a deeply spiritual man wrapped in the gift of humor. He was kind, generous and uncommonly wise. He was a Pittsburgh guy, like his father and grandfathers before him, and loved his Steelers and Roberto Clemente. He never gave up on finding the goodness in everyone, especially his family. He was deeply grateful for his loving spouse Eileen, and felt honored that his sons, John and Dan, were well educated and thoughtful men of character. He loved and respected his daughter-in-laws, Sarah Wrenn Milko and Monica Weaver, and was in awe of his grandchildren, Nadine and Dermot, with great expectations for the future yet to come with Dan and Monica.

In addition to his loving wife, John is survived by his two sons John P. Milko and his wife Sarah of Charleston, SC, and grandchildren Nadine and Dermot, and Dan M. Milko and his fiancé Monica Weaver of San Francisco. He is also survived by Dennis Widenhofer, Bill and Mary Milko, Marianne and Fred Azinger, Patricia Milko, Duffy and Barry Compton, and Lisa Casey, along with many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 10:30 until his Funeral Mass at 11:30 at St. Jude Church, 321 West Butler Ave., Chalfont, PA 18914. His internment will follow in Our Lady of Czestochowa Cemetery, 654 Ferry Road, Doylestown, PA 18902.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Capuchin Friars, Province of St. Augustine, 220 37th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201.