John Henry Miltner

John Henry Miltner passed away on Saturday, June 1, 2019 from dementia-related complications at the age of 83. He had retired to rural Thailand two years earlier, where he was cared for by his son, John Jr., daughter-in-law Wiyada, and enjoyed the company of his grandchildren, Elisabeth and Nick. 

A fourth-generation Michigan native, John was born and raised in Cadillac, Michigan in 1936 to Mary Blanche Calvin Miltner and Charles Howey Miltner. He was proud to join the first class of the newly created United States Air Force Academy Class of 1959, after graduating from Cadillac Senior High School in 1954 and studying briefly at Michigan Tech. He spent his early career as a B-52 pilot flying combat support in the Strategic Air Command as part of Operation Chrome Dome during the Cold War, and earned an MBA along the way. Later, he transitioned to flying as a commercial airline pilot, first with Western and later Delta Airlines. During a period of industry layoffs, he earned a law degree and briefly practiced as a member of the Colorado bar before resuming his airline career. John lived in Honolulu for twenty-five years until he retired to his beloved Cadillac for another twenty-five. In Cadillac, he briefly (but unsuccessfully) ran for Congress, enjoyed regular international travel, and time spent in the company of friends and family.

He is survived by children, John Jr. (Air Force Academy Class of 1992) and Barbara; spouse, Ulle Tensok; brothers, Charles and Ben; and sister, Barbara. John was lovingly cared for by his son’s family in Thailand for the last two years where he enjoyed the adventures and comforts of family life in the tropics.  
 
John was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary-Therese.

Cremation has taken place and no services will be held at this time.
 

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