Pitkin, Milo J. (1936-2012)

PITKIN, SHIPMAN, CONTRADY, FORD, KLINE, NETHERY, ZACHARY, FOSTER, JOHNSON, BONAR, KRIEGER

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 8/20/2012 at 19:15:45

Milo J. Pitkin
January 16, 1936 - July 18, 2012

Poplar Grove, Illinois

Diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer on May 20, 2012, Milo James Pitkin announced that he was looking forward to joining a heavenly choir and singing in a men’s quartet. He, then, began using the last two months of his life as he’d lived the previous seventy-six years, contacting family and friends, making plans for the future welfare of his family, and generally organizing his earthly affairs. He had no doubt that his eternal affairs were in order. He passed into that eternal life the afternoon of July 18, 2012, at home surrounded by family and friends and assisted by OSF Hospice.

Milo was born in Forest City, Iowa, January 16, 1936, to a family descended from pioneer homesteaders.

With a BA in Business from Drake University, Milo excelled as an entrepreneur, founding the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, Int’l, (FMA) and FABTECH, North America's largest metal fabricating event. He also pioneered new technologies in ergonomic office equipment, welding automation, and meat processing equipment in addition to publishing the trade journal, The Fabricator.

His life motto, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and your neighbor as yourself,” influenced his actions in business and in his community. Among his accomplishments, he was particularly proud of his groundwork in prisoner rehabilitation, having conducted the first jobs training seminar at Attica State Prison following the historic prison riot in 1971.

During his years in Illinois, he worshiped at Temple Baptist Church, Rockford; Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rockford; and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Belvidere, developing many friendships along the way. Having studied vocal music and having sung tenor in the Waldorf College Choir in Forest City, Iowa, he continued to sing in church choirs. A past member of the Cherry Valley Rotary Club and president of the Knolls of the Boone Home Association, he also served his church and community as a Stephen Minister and as a member of the task force to develop the Immanuel Lutheran North Congregation. In addition, he held various leadership roles in the Poplar Grove community.

He is survived by his wife, Deloris (Dahle) Shipman Pitkin, and her son, R.A.E. Shipman (Stephanie); his son, Stephen Milo (Susan) Pitkin; his daughters, Susan Pitkin Contrady and Shelly Pitkin (Mike) Ford; and their mother, Carol (Kline) Pitkin Ford; his grandchildren: Jennifer Nethery (Jason) Zachary, Joe Nethery, David (Stephanie) Nethery; Jack (Theresa) Nethery; Kathryn Foster, Annette and Sam Contrady, and Sophia and Roland Shipman; his great-grandchildren: Parker Zachary and Connor Nethery; and his sister, Sheryl (Ralph) Johnson, of Forest City, Iowa, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Milo James Pitkin, Sr.; his mother, Lucille Marie Bonar Pitkin; and his sister, Beverly Dean Krieger.

Copyright © 2012, Buck-Wheeler-Hyland Funeral Home