So many wonderful memories of great times that we shared. Our love, prayers, and sympathy to you, Chris, and Jennifer.

Mike Milburn and I worked together at Strategic Air Command and then U.S. Strategic Command in the early 1990s.  He and Barb and Carol and I shared dinners at an Indian food restaurant, and Mike and I played golf together; but most of our time was spent doing the best we could to provide accurate and timely intelligence information to commands throughout the U.S. Armed Forces.  He combined experience and skill with a personality that treated everyone respecfully, including the highest ranking and lowest ranking people.  He was one of the most fundamentally decent people I have ever met.

With deepest sympathy:
I was in the JROTC program for my sophomore-senior year, including Color Guard and Drill Team. I spent a lot of time with Col Milburn before, during and after school. He had a positive attitude that was contagious. He took time to get to know you, whether you were in one of his classes or not. I was shy and had low self esteem, but he always believed in me. My senior year, he gave me the opportunity to be the JROTC Squadron Commander. His unwavering support of me instilled confidence.
I have several memories, but I remember one funny story about the Military Ball. He knew that I had a fear of speaking to large groups. As the Squadron Commander, I was supposed to address the squadron at the ball. He didn't tell me this until maybe 5 minutes before. I believe he did this because he knew that I would be extremely nervous. I probably would have lost sleep for days before, and not looked forward to the ball itself. I never had another teacher that knew me as well as he did.
Col Milburn inspired me to pursue my dream of becoming a professional pilot. I'm sure there are countless other people that he had this affect on.
I have had few people in my life that have influenced me as much as Col Milburn. I often think of him and the time we shared together. He will be greatly missed, and I am so sorry for your loss.

Col. Milburn will be greatly missed!  I was in his JROTC program for 4 years and enjoyed every minute of it. Even  so much so, I joined the drill team under his command because of him. We had an awesome 4 years of competition (2002-2006).He always brought out the best in us. Even had a smile on his face for those early morning practice and bus rides we took to compete.
I will remember those days forever thanks to him.

Thank you for everything! You will be missed Sir!

Good Evening, 
I am writing because I heard news of your loss. I hope you are at peace. To say that your husband influenced my life - would be an understatement. 

Your husband was one of the first educators who loved me - and showed me unending kindness. I know I am not the only one with this message to you. 

I earned a full scholarship to Kansas State University because of Michael. I joined the Army as a 2nd LT and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom during my military career. I met my husband who is now a Battalion Commander (and truthfully would make a very caring educator as well - if he so chooses). 

I now educate elementary age children (alongside my own children) with the same love and passion that Michael did. 

I remember a speech he gave us while on Drill Team (maybe 1990 - 2001ish). He said something to the effect of: we were missing passion. Michael rarely got worked up - rarely emotional! But he was worked up - so we paid attention. He told us that we lacked passion in our routine and wanted to emphasize the importance of what we were doing. He wanted every movement to be purposeful and sharp, intentional and with PASSION. I remember the speech because he said "passion" over and over again and I don't think anyone had spoken to us that sincerely in High School - EVER. Like we were adults!

I don't remember if we won or lost, but I remember that speech and the care it must have taken to give us that level of inspiration. 

I hope your life with him was mostly nice. After 16 years of marriage, I am not naive enough to believe it was perfect. But I hope that there was sometimes passion, and I hope now there is sometimes peace - that would be a great legacy. 

I also believe that SAAB should be supplementing your lifestyle because every male in that school looked at the Col's SAAB with deep envy.

Col. Milburn was always one of my favorite high school staff to work with. Always so supportive of health activities and initiatives at any level in the district, plus a great advocate for student success.  I enjoyed every conversation with him.

I had the honor of being one of Col. Milburn's cadets over 20 years ago.  He was always a firm, honest and fair mentor and instructor.  JROTC, drill team and color guard was the highlight of my high school career and I have many fond memories of him.  My condolences to you, I know he will be greatly missed by many!  -Krystal

Col. Milburn will be greatly missed!  An amazing man who impacted so many lives.  I know he had an incredible impact on my and my two brothers' lives.  He was a man who truly believed in teaching you to be a better person in all aspects of your life.  He had faith in people even when they didn't deserve it and believed in you even when others may not see it.  I was just telling some Scottsbluff High School JROTC students Saturday night about how much JROTC meant to me and how impactful this man was on my life.   Praying for his family.

I am grateful for COL Milburn's influence in my life for the short years I was in JROTC, the extent of which I will probably never fully understand.  What I do know is that we are all the sum of our experiences, and COL Milburn provided an example of caring for others and self-respect for oneself in many students, Service personnel, and family over the years.  His influence, whether large or small, has had an impact for the better.  As an aside, I wish I knew he was an Intel Officer, I would have tried to get more stories out of him.

I was in ROTC for all 4 years of high school. Col. Was an amazing man and teacher. I enjoyed being in his class and I learned alot from col. 
I will always remember when it came to my senior year awards night, my father to myself and col. Milburn that he would not be there and col. Milburn  said you have to be. Come to find out the reason being was I was one of the cadets that earned cadet of the year and my father was there. RIP Col. Milburn you will never be forgotten.

OBITUARY

Michael P. Milburn

June 28, 1943 – January 28, 2024

Kahler-Dolce Mortuary

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