Walter Milligan
July 15,1889-Nov. 27, 1935
Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 29, 1935, page 1, col. 1, cont. page 2, col. 4 (microfilm Niles District Library)
Walter Milligan Dies; Untimely Death Victim
MANAGER OF FACTORY FOR KAWNEER PASSES IN SUDDEN RELAPSE
Underwent Operation in Pawating Hospital Three Weeks Ago; Here 18 Years
Walter Milligan, for 18 years an executive a the Kawneer plant, died Wednesday afternoon at Pawating hospital. His death terminated an illness extending over the last three weeks and followed a relapse Tuesday nigh. Mr. Milligan was 45 years of age.
Undergoing an emergency operation for acute appendicitis in the early morning hours of November 9, Mr. Milligan was reported to be in good condition after a few hours, complications developed, however, and for two weeks this condition was considered extremely grave. He began to amend late last week, and early this week it was announced he would be taken to his Topinabee home within a few days. He sank rapidly after the relapse Tuesday night. Mrs. Milligan, who had remained at his bedside during the entire three weeks of his illness, was with him at the end.
Mr. Milligan's death occurred on his wife's birthday and on the 28th anniversary of his mother's death.
His death case a shadow over the Thanksgiving holiday, for Mr. Milligan had a wide circle of friends from all walks of life, his associates and his various fraternal groups. Although he had never taken an active part in civic activity he was widely known among the business group.
At Kawneer today expressions of deep regret were heard over the loss of a valuable executive and a friendly department head. Mr. Milligan had been associated with the Kawneer for 18 years, coming to Niles, Aug. 2, 1917. He was foreman of the machine shop for a year and a half, assistant superintendent for the same period and finally factory manager in charge of production, a post he had held for 15 years.
His fraternal affiliations included a membership in the Niles lodge of (Continued on Page Two) Elks, the Masonic blue ledge in Gallion, Ohio, and the potentiary of Grand Rapids. The family has been living in the new home at Topinabee for the last year.
Mr. Milligan was born in Coshocton, Ohio, July 15, 1889. He came to Niles from Clyde, Ohio, where he had been employed by the Elmore Automobile Works.
He leaves his wife, Martha, and one son, Thurston, a student in Niles high school, also two sisters, and one brother, Mrs. Charles Randles, Coshocton, Ohio, and Mrs. Charles Sigman, Dover, Ohio, and one brother, Charles Milligan, Coshocton, Ohio.
Private funeral services will be held in the residence in Topinabee Saturday. Afterward the body will lie in state at St. John's Evangelical church from 1:30 to 2:4 o'clock Saturday afternoon. At 3 o'clock, the Rev. Dr. G.W. Simon will officiate at the church service and at the burial service at Silverbrook cemetery.
The pallbearers will be Arthur, Charles and Alden Krause, of Berrien Springs, and Chester Krause, of Pittsburgh, and George Kneeshaw, of Niles. All but Mr. Kneeshaw are brothers-in-law of the deceased.