Jerry Lee Milanos

Jerry Lee Milanos, 91, of Hillsboro, IL, passed away Friday May 10, 2024 at his residence. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Bass Patton Dean Funeral Home in Hillsboro, IL.  Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., at the funeral home. Burial will be in Elm Lawn Cemetery in Litchfield, IL. Rev. Harry Meyer will officiate. Military rites will be held at graveside.

Jerry was born July 26, 1932, in Hillsboro, IL, to the late Nicholas Demetrious and Flora (Poppenhouse) Milanos.  He was a 1952 graduate of Hillsboro High School in Hillsboro, IL. He was drafted into the United States Army. He was sent to Fort Belvidere for Officer’s Training School and from there he was sent to Korea, but the Armistice Agreement was signed when he was on a ship headed to Korea to the DMZ. Once there the Mess Sergeant was shipped out and Jerry was made Mess Sergeant in 8 days.  He was stationed there for the remainder of his 4 years. Once back home he remained working in the Café on main street with his brother.  He married Carol Maxine Wall, on January 27, 1969, in Greenville, IL. She survives in Hillsboro, IL. Together he and his wife started a D.J. business.  It was the first of its kind in the Hillsboro area, serving for weddings, and many other special occasions.  A few years later, Jerry & Maxine, along with their children, started a modest restaurant on school street, “The Main Dish”, which became a thriving business, also selling salad dressing to local businesses, as well as other restaurants.   Mr. Milanos was an avid fisherman and hunter, he was also an avid poker player for a number of years.  He never met a stranger, loved family and whenever anyone asked how he was, he always said “I’ve never had a bad day”.

Mr. Milanos is survived by his wife, Maxine of Hillsboro, IL; children, Jennifer Milanos of Hillsboro, IL; Krista Huber of Hillsboro, IL; Kendra (husband Travis) Durbin of Hillsboro, IL; and Jason Milanos of Hillsboro, IL; grandchildren, Jon (companion Jordan) Durbin, Jered Durbin, Jenna Durbin,  Jaylaan Milanos, Brendan Milanos, Brady Huber and Marah Huber; great-grandchildren, Huntley Durbin, Archie Durbin & Lettie Durbin, ; sister Barbara Denton of Taylor Springs, IL. He is preceded by his parents; son-in-law, Jamey Huber; brothers, James Milanos and Angelo Milanos and sister, Gloria Hawkins.

Jerry was an avid swimmer and on some occasions helped search for drowning victims, so in lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to: Imagine Hillsboro, P.O. Box 234, Hillsboro, IL 62049, add Central Park Pool in the memo line of any checks.

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