Tech. Sgt. Cory Allen Mildenstein 1962-2012

MILDENSTEIN ANFINSON NICE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/29/2012 at 20:30:28

Sioux City Journal
April 15, 2012

SIOUX CITY -- Tech. Sgt. Cory Allen Mildenstein, 49, of Sioux City drowned in the Atlantic Ocean near Aquadilla, Puerto Rico on Wednesday, April 4, 2012. Mildenstein, a member of the Civil Engineering Squadron, 185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard based in Sioux City, was conducting construction projects upgrading military facilities in Puerto Rico at the time of the accident.

Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Grace United Methodist Church located at 1735 Morningside Avenue in Sioux City, with the Rev. Harold Werley officiating. Interment will be in Cushing Cemetery, Cushing, Iowa. Public visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family receiving friend from 6 to 8 p.m., and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.christysmith.com.

Cory was born June 26, 1962 in Cherokee, Iowa, to Marlen and Beverly (Anfinson) Mildenstein. The family moved to Sioux City, where Cory attended Whittier Elementary and East Middle and graduated from East High School in 1981.

Cory married Kathy Nice in 1985 and raised her daughter Amber as his own. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in October 1985. Following graduation from basic training, he attended the Electronic Warfare Systems Specialist Course and was then assigned to George Air Force Base, Calif. Cory and Kathy had a daughter, April in 1986 and a son, Zac in 1990. The family moved back to Sioux City, and Cory worked for Gateway 2000, Quality Auto Finish and in 1993, started working for Sioux Tools until the company closed. Cory worked as a handyman in Sioux City.

He joined the Iowa Air National Guard in October 2005 and was named honor graduate of his Structural Maintenance Course, Mildenstein previously deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan as part of the Iowa Air National Guard Civil Engineering team in 2011. Cory was proud to serve his country like his father before him.

Cory was known to always have a smile on his face and a place in his heart for everyone. He was very proud of his children, Amber, April and Zac. He loved spending time with family and friends. Cory was always willing to help with a home repair or a car project. He was a lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan, loved to ride his motorcycle through Morningside and was currently working on restoring a 1956 Chevy Wagon in his spare time.

Survivors include his father and mother, Marlen and Beverly Mildenstein of Sioux City; daughter, Amber and Justin Nice-Pier of Abilene, Texas; daughter, April Olson of Sioux City; son, Zachary Mildenstein of Wayne, Neb.; brother, Ricky and Cecelia of Le Mars; sisters, Sheryl Mildenstein of Le Mars, Iowa, and Marcia and William McDeavitt of Florida; grandchildren, Kaylee, J.D. and Ethan; his fiancee, Maureen Carrigg of Wayne, Neb.; and several close cousins, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Barry; his maternal and paternal grandparents; and his dog, Alex.

Memorials may be directed to the family.