Duane J. Milk's Obituary
Duane Milk, 78, of Wesley Chapel, FL (formerly of Denville, NJ and Seminole, FL) devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on November 25, 2025, with loved ones by his side. He is lovingly remembered by his wife of nearly 55 years, Sandra; his daughter, Lorin (Daniel) Banks; his grandchildren, Julia, Austin, and Astrid; sister-in-law, Barbara Zouvelekis; and brother-in-law, Martin (Patricia) Kley. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Dora Milk, and his beloved son, Jeffrey Milk (2021).
Born in 1947, in Dover, NJ, Duane grew up an only child. He filled his youth with swimming, baseball, and adventure. At age 11, he discovered competitive swimming and went on to compete in college. He also enjoyed playing guitar and riding his motorcycle in his younger days. Hard-working and determined, Duane proudly saved for his first car and became the first in his family to earn a college degree, graduating from Northwest Missouri State University with a B.S. in Industrial Arts. He taught high school before beginning a long and respected career as a land surveyor.
The greatest joy of Duane’s life was his family. He and Sandra met in high school and shared a loving partnership built on friendship, humor, and unwavering support. As a father, he was gentle, playful, and patient, filling his children’s lives with outdoor adventures, vacations, and simple, joyful moments. As a grandfather, “Pop Pop” treasured helping his grandchildren learn and grow, sharing music, games, laughter, and beloved tractor rides.
In retirement, Duane remained deeply involved in his church community, serving faithfully for many years. He found peace in Tai Chi, laughter in square dancing, sport in bowling and golfing, entertainment in watching baseball, and purpose in researching his family’s genealogy. He enjoyed traveling, taking cruises, and savoring the time to reflect, explore, and simply enjoy the family he had lovingly built.
Duane’s life was not marked by grand gestures or loud declarations, but by steady, everyday love. He will be remembered for his gentle spirit, easy smile, and the way he made every person, especially his family, feel valued and loved. He leaves behind a legacy of warmth, humility, and devotion that will live on in the stories and hearts of all who loved him.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent in Duane’s honor to support Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy Research at https://www.angiopathy.org/support-us
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