Visitation
Monday, May 13, 2024
9:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
St. George Serbian Orthodox Church
826 State St.
Racine, WI 53404
Service
Monday, May 13, 2024
10:00 AM CDT
St. George Serbian Orthodox Church
826 State St.
Racine, WI 53404
Life Story / Obituary
Milutin Milosevic (Milton, AKA- Dr. John), age 85, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2024. He was born on May 19, 1938, in the small farming village of Visevac, Serbia to Vitomir and Stanica Milosevic.
In his early years of village life, he stood out from peers. His grandfather, a celebrated WWI veteran and local hero would often say, "We haven't seen a kid like him around here in a while, he's no farmer." His Deda Milivoje was right, Milutin's infectious personality, social skills, intellect, and creative spirit, could not be contained in a farming village comprised of 100 or so close neighbors and relatives, at least not for long. As a student, his passion for literature, philosophy, and history became his wunderlust. A skillful writer, he began composing short stories, poetry, and his own brand of "philosophy," a passion that endured throughout his long life. While he showed promise as a writer, he ultimately came to the realization that the family farm had no job openings for a writer, and trying to combine these two worlds would only lead to more chores. Without further educational opportunities in his local community, he was encouraged to leave home to pursue a secondary education at a regional school specializing in industrial studies. Then, after satisfying his mandatory military service, this adventurous young man knew it was time to go.
In 1965 he left communist Yugoslavia to rejoin his Mother, Father and younger Sister, who were now settled in the United States and has made his home in Racine ever since. Like many emigres of his generation, he immersed himself in learning a new language, a new culture, a new world, a world flowing with endless opportunity, an expansive set of new statutory rights and freedoms, and he embraced this new home with both arms. Racine's ever expanding Serbian community, Serbian church, his Family, all of which embraced Serbian values and traditions, provided the safest of safe harbors for his future chapters.
Following in the footsteps of Serbian emigres who arrived before him, he matriculated through of few of Racine's smaller industrial companies before ultimately landing at the J.I Case Company. While his job was anything but easy, he pridefully smiled whenever he uttered the words, J.I Case. For the next 25 years he would become an active union member and a loyal employee through his retirement in the early 90's. J.I Case, combined with his accumulated real estate holdings, provided him the financial resources to continue what his Father started—taking care of the family members that remained behind in Visevac and to ensure the family's village homestead would endure for generations to come, which it has.
Milutin was an active member, past president, and board member of Saint George Serbian Orthodox Church on State St, The Serbian Brotherhood organization in Lake Villa, IL, and a perpetual guest at "all things Serbian" in the Midwest Region. Like most, Milutin's life was filled with joy, triumphs, setbacks and loss. His greatest joy in life was the birth of his precious angel, daughter Ivanka, who's tragic and senseless death, less then 10 years later, his greatest loss. While his heart would remain forever broken, his true positive spirit would somehow endure over the next four decades, up to and through his final breath on May 7th.
Milutin, Milton to some, "Dr. John" to many, was a Good Man, a Stand-up Guy without an enemy, a Great Brother, a Loyal Son, a Favorite Uncle, a Fan Favorite of every child he's ever known, and a Best Friend to those fortunate enough to call him, Friend. He will be forever missed, but never forgotten. His light was just too bright to ever be extinguished. May he Rest In Peace, he's earned it.
Surviving is his nephew, Aleks Cukic, nephew, Dr. Milun Milosevic, Visevac/Kragujevac, Serbia, niece, Milijana Zravkovic, Raca, Serbia, and several grand nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by daughter, Ivanka Milosevic, father Vitomir, mother Stanica, sister, Milena Cukic, brother, Milosav, brother in-law, Vojislav Cukic, sister in-law, Milanka Milosevic, and his loving niece, Juliana Vukovich (Cukic).
Funeral services will be held at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, 826 State Sreet, Monday, May 13th, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. with Father Dragan Mitrovic officiating. Interment will follow at Most Holy Mother of God Cemetery, Gracanica Serbian Monastery, Third lake, IL. Friends may meet with family from 9:00-10:00 A.M prior to service at St. George Church.