Melvin Milliken

Melvin “Rebel” Milliken, 89, of Baroda, went home to heaven on Wednesday, March 18, 2015.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, March 21, 2015 at Pike Funeral Home, Boyd Chapel, 9191 Red Arrow Highway, Bridgman with Pastor Brett Ehlke officiating. Friends may meet with the family from 5 - 8 PM Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Stevensville, 2673 W. John Beers Road, Stevensville, MI 49127 or Bridgman American Legion Post #331, PO Box 67, Bridgman, MI 49106.

He was born July 2, 1925 to Henry Rochester and Rosseta Milliken in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. On November 30, 1943, Melvin married Mary Asylee Kiser. He entered the US Army on December 14, 1944, where he served his country in WWII, he received an honorable discharge on August 6, 1946. He received the Expert Rifleman award. He & Asylee were blessed with 10 children: Melvin Junior (Miriam), Billy (Cathy), Marvin, Eugene (JoAnn), Brenda (Rick) Arens, Imogene (Derek) Carpenter, Jimmy, Patricia Pruett, Tony (Denise) and Lisa (Jim) Zielke, and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

He retired from Bendix in 1987, was a member of the Bridgman American Legion Post #331 and the VFW Post #1137, Benton Harbor. He became a baptized member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Stevensville, on July 2, 2005 at the age of 80. He enjoyed sharpening chain saw and lawnmower blades and repairing old lawnmowers. He also enjoyed the company of his good friends at the Legion.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Asylee in 1987; his son, Eugene in 2010; his son-in-law, David B. Pruett, Jr in 2004; his great grandson, Jason A. Pruett, Jr in 2009; and his good friend of 16 years, Bertha Hodges in 2006.

Visitation

5 - 8 PM ,Friday, March 20, 2015
Pike Funeral Home, Boyd Chapel
9191 Red Arrow Hwy Bridgman, MI 49106

Funeral Service

10:30 AM ,Saturday, March 21, 2015
Pike Funeral Home, Boyd Chapel
9191 Red Arrow Hwy Bridgman, MI 49106

Burial

Saturday, March 21, 2015
Ruggles Cemetery
8475 Stevensville-Baroda Road Baroda, MI 49101