Vernon Alfred Milius

The world has lost one of its kindest, most generous, selfless people. Vernon Alfred Milius died at his home on January 14, 2026, at the age of 89. “Vern,” the very definition of a gentle giant, loved virtually everyone he interacted with, and the feeling was mutual. Throughout his life, he served constantly, and did so in countless ways.

Vern grew up in Salt Lake City and graduated from West High School, after which he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany, the country where his parents, Willie and Margarethe, were both born. He later served in the Air Force National Guard from 1954–1962 which sparked a lifelong love and passion for airplanes and aviation.

More than anything, Vern loved his family. He met his future wife, Rae, on a blind date, and it was love at first sight. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on May 29, 1959. They were married for 64 years until Rae’s death in 2023. Rae and Vern had four daughters. Their oldest daughter, Becky, died unexpectedly at the age of 2. Their next daughter, Lauri, was born the month following Becky’s death. Staci, their third daughter, soon followed, and their youngest, Tami, joined their family a few years later.

Tami was born with spina bifida and was confined to a wheelchair. As such, Rae and Vern actively took care of Tami for all of her 41 years of life until she died in 2010. Every day, Vern pushed Tami in her wheelchair and lifted her in and out of cars and into and out of her bed. He did so with complete love, never begrudgingly or with complaint.

In addition to helping raise and care for his family, Vern worked professionally for 48 years. He spent 36 years at Hercules Inc. as a manager in the parts department and later worked for 12 years as a school bus driver.

Although his love for his family and his hard-working nature defined much of his life, there was much more to him. Vern loved aviation and enjoyed understanding how things worked—perhaps what made him a master of jigsaw puzzles. He also loved traveling, and he was always up for anything. Vern, Rae, and Tami went on many cruises together and went on several family vacations to the Disney Parks. He had a reputation for being able to spin the Teacups at Disneyland faster than anyone else. Even at the age of 89, just a few months before his passing, he was sitting in the front row on Space Mountain.

Vern was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rae; their daughters, Becky and Tami; and his brother, Raymond. He is survived by his daughters, Lauri (Parry) Lee and Staci (Joel) Marr; his sister, Joanne Hansen; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 3080 South Kenwood Street in Millcreek, Utah.