GRAND DETOUR—Deacon Robert Nash Milano, 78, of Grand Detour, died Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford.

Deacon Milano was born Sept. 8, 1938, in Chicago, the son of Michael Don and Gina Rocca (Melone) Milano.

He married Judith Seybert Diehl on June 21, 1985, in Rockton.

Before retiring he served as a permanent deacon for 23 years in Oregon and Dixon parishes. He was a member of St. Anne Parish in Dixon, where he was involved with the RCIA program. He was also a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus in Dixon.

He was a veteran of the United States Air Force.

He worked as a metallurgist and structural engineer for the State of Illinois.

He and his wife operated StoneWood Kreative Studio.

He is survived by his wife, Judith Milano of Grand Detour; their children, Ken (Sheri) Diehl of Oregon, Den Diehl of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Lisa (Don) Wright of McHenry, Tamara (Tim) Flessner of Sublette, Robert C. (Shari) Milano of Fountain Hills, Ariz., and Randy (Jennifer) Diehl of Dixon; two brothers, Gary Michael (Wayne) Milano of Arlington, Va., Richard Joseph Milano of Indianapolis, Ind.; grandchildren, Josilyn (Shawn) Foster, Stephanie (James) Eldridge, Kevin (Candace) Wright, Bryan (Chelsey) Diehl, Whitney Keene, Tiffany Diehl, April Diehl, Anthony Milano, Kyle Wright, Alyssa Diehl;  great grandchildren, Alexis Keene, Ayden Forbush, Jayden Dobyns, Macy Fassler, Aidan Eldridge, Gracelynn Miller, Wyatt Forbush, Gideon Eldridge, Corey Diehl, and Harper Foster; nephew, Michael J. Milano; and niece, Emily (Josh) Kerr.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one great granddaughter, Ann Maray Forbush.

Visitation was Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, at Preston-Schilling Funeral Home, Dixon. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial was Friday, Feb. 10, at St. Anne, Dixon, with Father Antoni Kretowicz, pastor. Burial was in Grand Detour Cemetery.