Thurston Joseph Milligan, 90, passed on peacefully on April 24, 2010. It would have been his beloved Pat’s 90th birthday.

Joe was born on July 4, 1919 to Carrie and Walter Milligan in Niles. He grew up there and always had a fondness for Niles. After high school, Joe attended Notre Dame and went on to study at the Academy of Fine Arts in Chicago. Commercial art was how Joe made his living at National Print, then Miller Industries and Olin Corporation. His true love, however, was portrait painting. Joe was talented at rendering photos of family and friends in oils, pastels and charcoal. He also gave freely of his artistic gifts to his church and his community over the years.

Joe married Patricia Snyder in May 1941. They raised Maureen and Kevin in Niles and Reed City and were together for 64 years until Pat’s death in 2005. They had moved to Grand Rapids for retirement in 1985. Joe was devoted to his family and was a good and gentle man.

Among those who miss him are Maureen and Bob, Kevin and Chantal, granddaughters, Laura and Katy, and grandsons, Michael, Rob, Joe, Matt, Dominic, Colin and Brendan. Surviving also are seven great-grandchildren: Sam, Ben, Rachel, Analise, Sophie, Bruno and Ivy. Also sister-in-law, Anna May Stratton and her family and friends, Hank and Tony. Also loves of Joe were “real good” art, Notre Dame football, playing the piano, big band music, crosswords, root beer floats and coney dogs. Hopefully, he is enjoying them all now with Pat. Joe gave to many charities. Anyone wanting to honor him, please give to the charity of your choice. The family is planning a Celebration of Life at a later date.