John 'Mr. M' Milkowski
John "Mr. M" Milkowski John "Mr. M." Milkowski was a teacher at Cedarville High School for 34 years. He died in Phoenix, Arizona, Saturday, April 4, 2009, after a short illness. He was 67.
He was born in Chicago December 21, 1941. His family moved to Marquette when he was 15, and he was graduated from Graveraet High School in 1959.
Mr. Milkowski earned his teaching degree from Northern Michigan University and began his career as a history and government instructor in Cedarville in 1964. After a few years, he took a break from teaching and moved to Oregon. Four years later, he returned to Cedarville and resumed his career, retiring in 2002.
Mr. Milkowski was a fiery and demanding teacher, known for his college-style lectures, "snap quizzes," and in-class assignments, but he was also loved and respected by students for his sense of humor, his dedication to his students, and his ability to make classes interesting and relevant, friends said. For more than years, he was often listed in various yearbooks as many students' favorite instructor. He is remembered for his steady, upbeat personality, and for making the past meaningful in explaining the problems and accomplishments of today.
Mr. Milkowski loved traveling and camping. He and his wife, Marianne, whom he wed April 7, 1979, spent many summers on the road. They visited forts, state and national parks, and historical sites in all states except Hawaii and every Canadian province.
He maintained a coterie of high school and college friends with whom he met and communicated. He could also count as friends hundreds of former students who held him in high regard. He was especially close to the school staff at Cedarville, many of whom were his former students.
He is survived by his mother, Martha; a half-brother, Melvin Manty; his wife, Marianne; four stepchildren, John, Christian, Shari, and Jeff Sutter; seven grandchildren, Tina, John, Cliff, Shane, and Cole Sutter, and Jesse Green; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father.
A memorial service will be held later in May.
