Milligan, Vernon Robert

Vernon Robert Milligan, 83, of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, at the Hiawatha Care Center, after a short illness. Funeral Service: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 520 Wilson Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, where the family will greet friends from 1 p. m. until service time. Burial: Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include his cousins, Kathleen DeForrest and Edwin Klinger of California; nieces and their husbands, Sandi and Michael Donoghue of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Barb and Bill Ciha of West Branch, and Nancy and Gary Milder of West Branch; nephews and their wives, Mark and Pam Lodge of Texas and Mike and Mindy Lodge of West Branch; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Harold and Donald Milligan; and a sister and her husband, Betty (Milligan) and Clarence Lodge.

Vern was born May 2, 1929, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of William and Pauline (Lesinger) Milligan. He attended Cedar Rapids schools, graduating from Wilson High School. Vern served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953 in Japan. For 37 years, he worked at McGrath Automotive as a parts salesman in Cedar Rapids. Vern enjoyed flowers, buying and fixing clocks and taking long walks with his faithful dog, Winston.

Special thanks to his Kirkwood Community College friends for their support and care.

A memorial fund has been established in Vernon's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Vernon at under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette Aug. 28, 2012.