Milton Casebere

Milton Casebere died Monday, February 21, 2011 at the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah Iowa, with his wife Shirley at his side. Eleven months ago on his 90th birthday, friends and family gathered at the same church where many will say good by to him this week. His love of the creative arts, music, church, country and family was evident in the warmth of the celebration that day. His spirit lives on in our lives. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 26, at 1:30 PM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 701 Iowa Avenue. Memorials can be made to Winneshiek County Habitat for Humanity or Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice. The Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah, Iowa, is in charge of local arrangements. Milton Casebere was born in Minneapolis, MN on March 21, 1920 to John and Tena (Jahr) McLeod. When his mother died in 1925, he was adopted by an aunt and uncle, Willis and Carol Casebere. They moved to Lake Crystal in 1927 where they operated the White Swan Café in partnership with another aunt and uncle, Fred and Lillian Norberg. After a move to St. Peter in 1929, they operated Casebere and Norberg’s Café. Milt worked in the café during his school years. He graduated from St.Peter High School in 1938, and attended Gustavus Adolphus College until 1941 when he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. Graduating from the Air Corps Navigating School at Mather Field, CA, he served overseas for 2 ½ years, flying 28 missions with the 8th Air Force in England as a Navigator, retiring as a Captain. After the service, he was with his father and uncle’s business, C & N Sales in Mankato, MN. He was recalled for service in the Korean Conflict, flying 55 missions as a Navigator-Bombardier and continued with 22 years in the Air Force Reserve, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. After returning from the service, he worked at Landkamer’s Furniture in Mankato, as an interior designer, later managing the gift and drapery departments. Along with Bob and Elouise Olson, he started a similar business, The Corner House. Later he moved to Des Moines, IA in 1976 and worked for Younker‘s and Artis Furniture, returning to Mankato when he retired in 1985. He worked part time for Town and Country Interiors for several years. In 2005 he and Shirley moved to Decorah Iowa, to be closer to family in their later years. He was Past Master of Mankato Lodge #12, AF and AM, was treasurer of the lodge for several years. Always active in Grace Lutheran Church, he served in leadership positions on the council and Sunday school, sang in the choir for many years, and was a bible study leader. While in Des Moines, he was a council member at St.Stephen’s Lutheran Church, chairman of the congregation, Synod Representative, and active in the choir and music programs of the church. In Decorah, he and wife Shirley joined and supported the work of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. He was especially proud of his military service, and that all four brothers served - John as a glider pilot, Bob as a fighter pilot in the Pacific and his younger brother Kenneth in the Navy and later in the Army in Korea. He married Shirley Arlene Pohl on Easter Monday April 22, 1946. They had three children, Susan, Paulette (Polly) and Mary. He is survived by his wife, Shirley, three daughters Susan (Lyle) Otte of Decorah, IA, Polly Casebere (Harry Parmenter) of Carrollton, GA, and Mary Kidd of Decorah, IA, his Mankato kids, Diane and Steve Deeren, 7 grandchildren, 3 great-granddaughters, 3 nephews and many cousins, He was preceded in death by his mother and father, his adopted father and mother, 3 brothers and one sister.