Joann Milner

JoAnn Milner was born in Hanover Kansas on April 4, 1932 to William and Madilyn Schultz.  She had 3 brothers, Rodney, Don & Max  Schultz (all 3 deceased) and 1 sister Velma Mullen, who resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.   JoAnn grew up in Kansas and married her soulmate Robert Milner on November 29, 1952.   Robert and JoAnn started a life together in Clayton, Kansas where they had 10 children, 9 born in Norton, Kansas and the last one in Delta, CO.  Mary Margret Daniels (Deceased  9-4-13), John Robert Milner (fiancé to Betty Hickert) of Norton, Kansas, Patricia Ann Carr (married to Jay Carr) of Grand Junction, CO, Richard Ward Milner of Paonia, CO, Edward Allen Milner (married to Dawn Milner) of Paonia, CO,  Gregory Joseph Milner of Paonia, CO,  Melinda Kay Ruble (married to Enos Ruble) of Hotchkiss, CO, Annette Louise Milner of Paonia, CO, Janis Lynn Milner of Grand Junction, CO and Mark David Milner (married to Nichole Milner) of Paonia, CO.

JoAnn and Robert lived on farm outside of Clayton, Kansas where they started the Milner legacy.   JoAnn always spoke about their great Dane, Duke who she loved dearly.  She stayed busy looking after all her children and keeping the boys out of mischief.   Farming was a hard life and they both decided in 1970 that they wanted something different and found their way to Paonia, CO.

JoAnn was not a fan of driving in the mountains and it took her years before she braved the roads, but once she did, Colorado became her home forever.   She was a full time homemaker and then worked at the cafeteria at Paonia High School and cleaned the Paonia Town Hall for years.   JoAnn was known for her amazing baking and cooking skills.  She made homemade bread and her famous cinnamon rolls every Friday that brought many family and friends to the home for a taste.  She was an immaculate house keeper and was very good at delegating chores and duties to keep a tidy home.  She enjoyed gardening and canned most vegetables and had the best dill pickles in the valley.   She loved to go for walks and was seen many times going up and down the railroad tracks.  Cooking and baking was her specialty and no one ever went hungry when she was around.

JoAnn loved watching her children grow and creating their own families bringing her 14 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.  She was loved by all and was known for her sweet and sassy side.  She enjoyed family gatherings and a busy home, was a happy home.  As a family, we were able to honor her wishes to remain in her home after our father passed away on June 9, 2015.   Annette Milner took on the role as the full time care giver and siblings and grandchildren helped at nights and weekends, allowing her to live in her family home.  JoAnn loved sitting in her recliner, next to the wood stove watching Gun Smoke, Ponderosa and Little House on the Prairie.   She would light up with the talk of homemade cookies & milk, cheeseburgers and her root beer.  She was surrounded by her family when she passed at the Hope West Care Center in Grand Junction, CO on February 28, 2020.

A funeral service will be held at the Mountain View Bible Church in Lazear, CO on Saturday , March 7th at 10:00 A.M.  A lunch will follow downstairs in the Fellowship Hall.   A graveside Service will be held at 2:00 P.M. at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Paonia, CO.