Dorne "Dick" Millis

An extraordinary man who lived an extraordinary life, Dorne A. “Dick” Millis was a blessing in the lives of everyone he met. He was a man of great honor and courage who put others ahead of himself in everything he did. Dick was a devoted family man who was blessed to share 60 years of his life with his true love. Together he and his beloved wife were filled with unspeakable joy to witness their family tree blossom to include the branches of loved ones who made them so very proud. Life will never be the same without Dick here, but he leaves behind a timeless legacy that his loved ones will proudly carry on in his footsteps.

The 1930s were primarily defined by the Great Depression. The days were filled with great trial and tribulation as jobs were scarce, which caused a soaring unemployment rate. Despite the challenges around them, Ralph A. and Erma Millis were able to shift their focus to an exciting time in their own lives as they announced the birth of the baby boy they named Dorne A. on January 4, 1936, in San Diego, California. He was one of six Millis children as he was raised alongside his siblings, Jack A., Monica, Marie, Victor, and Mikal. With a father who made his career in the military, Dick was raised on various United States Navy bases as well as on his grandfather’s farm outside of Iowa City. His mother did some work as a seamstress and was also a busy homemaker. Dick and his family were a part of history as they were posted to the naval base at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack. For the rest of his life Dick vividly remembered watching the Japanese airplanes fly overhead. Dick had a paper route, worked on the farm, and was a butcher’s assistant in a restaurant. He enlisted in the Marines at the age of 17, just one day after his birthday in 1953. Dick’s civilian education culminated with a master’s degree in business.

Deeply devoted to serving his country, Dick made his career in the military, just as his father had done. He went through boot camp at MCRD in San Diego, California. Dick then had subsequent training as an ammunition technician and volunteered for the Explosive Ordinance Disposal field shortly thereafter. Highly accomplished at a young age, at one point Dick was the youngest “special” weapons (nuclear weapons) technician in the USMC ever. Selected as a warrant officer he continued as a Marine Corps EOD officer through the rank of captain, serving several ship board deployments in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Western Pacific. Dick saw service in Korea and also did two tours in Vietnam including in 1965, in which he participated in the first USMC landing there. He also did a subsequent tour in 1967 through 1968. When posted to Iwakuni, Japan, Dick ran the USMC EOD Detachment and the Navy Surface Rescue Division. He retired from the Marines in 1973. Perhaps Dick’s proudest moments with the military came when he administered the oaths of enlistment to all three of his children and two of his grandchildren. In its entirety, his military career spanned from January 5, 1953, to January 31, 1974.

Also of great significance in Dick’s life was his family. It was as a young military man that he met the young woman of his dreams. Her name was Audrey J., and they met at a depot when she was picking up her US Marine Corps brother. A relationship ensued, and the couple soon found themselves deeply in love. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together, Dick and Audrey were married on September 1, 1956. Together they welcomed three children including Dorne A., Mark A. and Tammy A. into their hearts and home. In the early seventies, Dick and Audrey took a memorable vacation to Beppu, which is known for its hot springs and volcanos. While there they went to Monkey Mountain, an extinct volcano with several troops of Asian Baboons in residence. It was quite something to see the visitors feeding the apes.

Throughout his life Dick was a man of many interests. He was a jack of all trades, too, as he wore the hats of machinist, mechanic, carpenter, fine carpenter, avid shooter, gunsmith, and photographer. After retiring from the military Dick worked as a police officer, construction carpenter, systems safety engineer, and civil defense coordinator. Within his community he actively volunteered with the Masons, Shriners, Boy Scouts, Toys for Tots, and several other individual causes and programs as required. Dick maintained more magazine subscriptions then most public libraries, and was an amazing historian on many subjects. His taste in music ranged widely and was very eclectic as it included everything from classical as well as groups like Enigma, Enya, Black Sabbath, and Fleetwood Mac.

Described as a Marines’ Marine, Dorne A. “Dick” Millis lived a life of purpose while holding his loved ones near. He worked hard and was diligent in whatever task was at hand, and his desire to serve others was easy to see. Although he accomplished so much of which to be proud, Dick was a humble man whose greatest source of pride and joy was found in the family he treasured. Deeply loved, he will be forever missed.

Dorne A. “Dick” Millis, Captain USMC (Ret) of Auburn, died Wednesday January 25, 2017, at DeKalb Health in Auburn. Dick’s family includes his wife, Audrey J. Millis of Auburn; children, Dorne A. Millis II, Mark A. Millis and Tammy A. Millis; grandchildren, Nino Fernando, Matt Millis, Amanda Millis, Shanna Childress, Wendy Smosna and Paul Millis; great grandchildren, Raya, Mable, Paisley, James, Issac, Kai, Mariah, Haylee, Harper and Evertte. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 2 p.m. Monday with calling one hour prior at St. Michael Catholic Church, 1098 C.R. 39, Waterloo. Calling also will be held Sunday from 1-4 p.m. at Pinnington Funeral & Cremation Services, 502 N. Main Street, Auburn. Burial will be held in Saint Michael Catholic Cemetery. The United States Marine Corps will provide full military honors. Memorial donations may be made to DeKalb Humane Society. To sign the online guest registry, visit www.pinningtonfh.com.