3/21/2006 —
• Louise McMullen (92), died today at 4:45pm. She was previously admitted to the University of Iowa hospital for pneumonia.
Milder Coat of Arms
Frances Louise Miller McMullen, 92, of Iowa City died Tuesday, March 21, 2006 at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

Louise was born September 14, 1913 in West Liberty, Iowa, the daughter of John and Gertrude Smith Milder. On November 9, 1937 she married Carl J. Miller at St. Joseph’s Church in Hills. Carl died in 1986. On October 1, 1994 she married Harris McMullen in Port Richey, Florida. Harris died in 2005.

Louise and Carl farmed for many years in Johnson County. They established the Carl J. Miller Construction Co. and built homes in Iowa City. In later years, they would spend their summers in Iowa City and then winter in Port Richey, Florida.

Louise was a member of St. Mary’s Church and the Altar and Rosary Society. She was an avid card player, enjoyed cross-stitch and quilting, and cherished her time with family.

Louise is survived by her son, Charles W. (Anna May) Miller of Iowa City; two grandchildren, Stephanie Louise Miller and Blaine (Marlana) Miller, both of Cedar Rapids; two great grandsons Connor and Quinn; six brothers, Paul Milder, Ben (Joann) Milder, Gene (Betty) Milder, Gerald (Pauline) Milder, all of Iowa City, Leonard (Marilyn) Milder of Solon, and John (Zita) Milder of Silver Cliff, CO.; two sisters, Gertrude Nicholas of Gilbert, IA. and Pat (Glenn) Kasper of Oxford, IA.

Louise was preceded in death by both her spouses, five brothers and three sisters.

2/18/2006 —
• Wilma Hendrina Dietsch (91), of 230 Brady Street in Hills , died today, Friday, February 17, 2006 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. She had been in the hospital in recovery since haing a mild heart attack a few days earlier.

Wilma was born December 26, 1914 in rural Nichols, Iowa, the daughter of John & Gertrude (Smith) Milder. She attended schools in Nebraska and North Dakota. Wilma married Clarence Dietsch June 16, 1938 in Hills, Iowa.

She worked with her husband in operating Dietsch’s Grocery in Hills and also was a matron at Halsey Gymnasium at the University of Iowa for 10 years.

Wilma was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Joseph Altar & Rosary Society, Hills Town & Country Club and Catholic Daughters of America. Wilma also was a volunteer at Atrium Village in Hills.

Survivors include her children, daughters, Carol of Davenport, Constance of Muscatine and Anne Hoke & her husband David of Mt. Vernon; sons, William of Iowa City and Anthony & his wife Beth of Des Moines; grandchildren, Angela Dietsch Blair, Karina Dietsch Stafford, Christina Dietsch, Jodi Hoke, Dina Hoke & Bryan Hoke; great-grandchildren, Michael & Erika; brothers, Paul Milder of Iowa City, Ben Milder & his wife Joann of Iowa City, Leonard Milder & his wife Marilyn of Solon, Gene Milder & his wife Betty of Iowa City, John Milder & his wife Zita of Silver Cliff, Colorado and Gerald Milder & his wife Pauline of Iowa City; Sisters, Gertrude Nicholas of Gilbert, Iowa, Pat Kasper & her husband Glenn of Oxford and Louise McMullen of Iowa City; many of nieces and nephews

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Clarence in June of 2000, two infant brothers, Joseph & Donald, two sisters, Elizabeth and Sister Mary Margaretta, three brothers, Ed, Larry & Maurice and a granddaughter, Regina Dietsch.

8/17/2005 —
• Rose Ann Howell, 66, formerly of Milan, Illinois died today. Wednesday, August 17, 2005 at her daughter's home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Services were at Larson Funeral Home, Rock Island, IL. She was buried at National Cemetery, Rock Island, IL.

Rose was born April 23, 1939 in Iowa City, Iowa the first child of Lyle and Elizabeth "Lib" (Milder) Frantz. She married Aaron Howell October 17, 1959 in Hills, Iowa. He died October 2, 1986.

She was a homemaker and enjoyed knitting and collecting figurines. She is survived by daughters Sharon (Mark) Howell, St. Augustine, Florida and Kathryn (James) Harman, Tulsa, OK.; sons, Logan Howell, Elkridge, Maryland and Lee Howell, Kimberly, Wisconsin; grandchildren, Patricia and Nicholas Howell and Samantha Harman; sisters Marilyn (William) Kruse, Wapelo, Iowa and Rita (Steve) Decker, Iowa City, IA.; brothers Joseph (Mary) Frantz, Riverside, IA., David (Rita) Frantz, Iowa City, IA., and John (Sherry) Frantz, Hills, IA., and many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.

11/1/2004 —
• Gene Kasper (47)Milder Coat of Arms
Eugene A. “Gene” Kasper of Tiffin, died in a accident while working at his fathers farm on Saturday.

Gene was born April 21, 1957 in Iowa City, the son of Glenn & Pat (Milder) Kasper. He graduated from Iowa City West High in 1975 and attended Kirkwood Community College. Gene married Teresa Marshall August 2, 1986 in Ottawa, Illinois.

Gene farmed in Johnson County with his Dad and was a member of the Johnson County Extension Council, the Water & Soil Conservation Board and the Johnson County Farm Bureau. He was also serving on the Clear Creek Water Shed Committee.

Above all, Gene adored his children.

Survivors include his wife Teresa, his children; Peter Kasper & Natalie Kasper, both at home;
his parents, Glenn & Pat Kasper of Oxford; brothers Jerome Kasper & his wife Cindy of North Liberty, Richard Kasper & his wife Chris of Oxford; sisters, Kathleen Desterhaft of North Liberty, Mary Lou Theobald & her husband Bill of Falls Church, Virginia and Nancy Schwitzer & her husband Orey of Coralville; brothers and sisters in law, Stephen Marshall & his wife Michelle of Peoria, Illinois, Gregory Marshall & his wife Angie of Serena, Illinois, Thomas Marshall of St. Louis, Missouri, Richard Marshall of Oregon, Illinois and Etta Head & her husband David of New Hartford, New York; Gene’s father in law, John Marshall of Ottawa, Illinois and several nieces and nephews.

Gene was preceded in death by his mother in law Corona Marshall, his grandparents

10/8/02 —
• New Smith Family Tree page with all new photos and clippings.
• New Family Tree data file generated now with over 1200 entries and many corrections.
• Expanded Photos page with four new sections.
• Converted the "Milder Story" pages and many old style family tree pages to the new style for faster loading and consistent look.

• 10/3/02 — Two more of Gertrude Milders diaries (1956 & 1970) have been added to this site. Thanks to Rita Decker and Kathy Desterhaft for thier contribution. To view, click here.

• 9/29/02 — Added new "Photos" page that is still under construction. It currently has most all of the available reunion photos that I have.

• 9/19/02 — Mary Ellen Milder died today at the age of 86 in Hudson, Wisconsin. She is survived by her four children.
She was born Mary Ellen Forbes, May 9, 1916 in Marion, Iowa and married James Francis Milder April 19, 1941, son of William Milder.

Obituary from Hudson Star Observer:
" Mary Ellen Milder, 86
Mary Ellen Milder, of Hudson and formerly of Iowa, died Thursday Sept. 19th at the Hudson Medical Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday, September 21 at St. Frances of Assisi Catholic Church in Lake St. Croix Beach, Minnesota. Burial in St. Cecelia's Cemetery in Algona, Iowa."

• 9/19/02 — New web site design placed online

• 8/27/02 — Read about Catherine Milder's Trip to the Netherlands complete with photos.

• 8/7/02 — Sister Margaretta's memorial - by Pat Kasper

• 8/5/02 — Full Re-union report - by Kathy Desterhaft

• 7/25/02 — John & Gertrude Milder Reunion - 85 in attendance, including original siblings Paul, Gerald, Ben, Louise, Wilma, Gertrude (Trudy), Leonard and Pat. Also, Joan Milder and Mary (Frantz) Milder were there. The weather was hot and humid.

• 7/25/02 — Chase Nathaniel Kruse * Newest addition to the Milder Family *
Born: 07/15/02 at 10:35 pm 9 lbs 2 ozs 21"
Parents: Lynn & Nicole Kruse; Brothers: Anthony & Stephen Kruse

• 7/21/02 — John Milder Family Reunion (97th anniversary)

• 7/18/02 — Expanded coverage of descendants of John Milders parents.

• 5/10/02 — This site is finally available under all major search engines. Just noticed that Google has milder.org indexed. Go to Google.com and enter "milder family" or your name to see what is found.

• 2/2002 — The number of visitors to this site has just exceeded 1000.

• 11/30/01 — Lyle Frantz passed away

• 8/5/01 — Elizabeth Rose (Milder) Frantz passed away

• 1/4/01 — Lillian E.(Frantz) Milder passed away.

• 11/2000 — Web site first online with Milder story and some photos

updated 3/2006 - Copyright© 2000-2006 Milder.org