Obituary: Erna H. (Wilke) Milne

MADISON [Wisconsin] - Erna H. Milne, age 92, of Madison, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, March 10, 2002. She was born on June 29, 1909, in Madison, to the Rev. Otto J. and Clara Beck Wilke. She attended Brayton Elementary School, Madison Central High School, the University of Colorado-Boulder and Milwaukee Downer Teachers College. She taught kindergarten at Lincoln and Washington schools for 19 years before her marriage to Lloyd W. Milne on Jan. 20, 1948. She was a substitute teacher at Lakewood School and taught at Mrs. Deakman's Nursery School prior to starting Mrs. Milne's Nursery School in Maple Bluff. She returned to teaching kindergarten at Lapham School in 1961 and taught there until her retirement in 1971. She was an avid antique collector and loved needlework and traveling. She was a lifelong member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Madison, where her father and grandfather were founding clergy and she served as choir director. Erna is survived by her beloved sister, Adelaide "Addie" Wilke; her daughter, Ann Milne (Justice William Bablitch) of Madison; a granddaughter, Bulleh Bablitch; and two great-granddaughters, Laytee and Nancy, of Eagan, Minn. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Milne, in 1967. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2002, at ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 322 E. Washington Ave., Madison. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church or Hospice of Dane County. Erna's family would like to thank all her friends and relatives who showed such a fondness for her. Erna loved to laugh and entertain and would want all of those who remember her to relish in the joys of friendship and family. Informed Choice Funeral And Cremation Alternatives 5801 Highway 51, PO Box 105 McFarland, WI 53558 (608) 838-0536


Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 12, 2002; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)