Milton L. (Red) Dickinsen
Embraced by a multitude of loving and caring family members, Milton L. Dickinsen of Augusta peacefully passed away on Thursday, March 29, 2012.
Milton was born on May 6, 1927, at the home of his parents, Virgil L. and Emma L. (Pettis) Dickinsen. He was later baptized at home. As a child, he spent many happy hours at the Thompson Valley farm with his grandparents, Charles W. and Ella L. (Wilson) Pettis. He also enjoyed spending time on the farm north of Augusta with grandparents Sam and Evalina (Anderson) Dickinson. His parents and grandparents fostered in Red a fondness of wildlife and nature and a respect for our environment.
Red attended elementary and high school in Augusta. Because he was called to active duty in May of his senior year, Red graduated by proxy from Augusta High School in 1945. He served proudly as a Yeoman First Class in the United States Navy during World War II, spending time in the Asiatic Pacific. He was a 60+ year member of the Augusta VFW Post #8478 and the Augusta American Legion Post #291. Upon his return from the military, he attended UW-Whitewater and the Dairy Management Short Course at UW-Madison. Along with his parents and brothers, he managed Better Dairies located in Augusta. In 1954, he took a position with the United States Postal Service, working at the Augusta Post Office until his retirement in 1984. After his retirement, he enjoyed driving school bus for children in the Augusta and Osseo School Districts, and was a limo chauffeur for Wisconsin Northern Transportation.
Red met his lifetime love on New Year’s Eve in 1949. In March of 1950, he asked Donna Faye Deutscher to join him in marriage. They were married at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, WI. Red and Donna later became members of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Foster, WI. They celebrated 60 years of marriage on June 16, 2011. Red and Donna raised a family of six sons and one daughter on their farm in Otter Creek Township: Milton, Jr. "Dick", John (Gloria), Steven (Rosann), Kevin (Cindy), Mark (Andrea), Mitch (Lonna), and Joyanne (Jim Nowak). Red leaves behind his cherished grandchildren: Angela, Sarah, Emma, Kathryn, John, Carissa, Amanda, James, Kimbri, Benjamin, Natalie,Timothy, Scott, Shannon, Melissa, Jordan, Janna, Mark, Andrew, Nathan, Mark, Elizabeth, Matthew, and 26 great-grandchildren.
Other family members that Red leaves behind include his brothers Dale (Jeanine), and Neil (Doris), his uncle Donald (Hazel) Dickinson, sister-in-law Vonnie Zank Bearson, and brother-in-law John Deutscher (Barbara). Many cousins, nieces, and nephews also survive him.
Red was preceded in death by his parents, his father and mother-in-law, Elmer J. and Ava A. Deutscher, a special uncle and friend Zelnar Blizzard, and his most beloved grandson, Stevie.
Friends and family may call from 2:00-5:00p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, WI, on Sunday, April 1. Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 2, at 11:00a.m. at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Foster, WI, with Pastor Dennis Voss officiating. Visitation will also be held at the church one hour before services. Burial, with military honors, will take place at Hillcrest Cemetery in Garfield Township.
Red had a true zest for life, and was genuinely curious about the world around him. We will always recall his many interests and passions, including hunting, fishing, traveling, farming and woodlands, cattle and horses, reading, coin collecting, and auctions. Most of all, however, Donna and his family will remember his love and devotion for them. The family would like to thank the staff at the Fall Creek Valley Care Center for lovingly and respectfully caring for Red during his last year of life.