Obituary of Miodrag Milenkovic

On July of 1922, Miodrag (Dragi/Mio) Milenkovic was born in Presevo, Yugoslavia to Manasije and Kocana Milenkovic. The eldest of six children, Miodrag apprenticed as a tailor at 12 years old. At 19, he joined the army, and subsequently didnt see his family for 21 years. With the tumult of WWII, he left on foot with 12,000 others to seek refuge. In a transit camp in Germany, the handsome blue-eyed Serb met Emmy Laturnus, a beautiful, young German-Russian. They tangoed and waltzed together, fell in love, and finally moved to Canada where they opened their home to friends and family and shared what little they had. Dragi and Emmy lived in Regina where he worked as a tailor. Without a car, he walked to and from Eatons on Broad Street from Winnipeg & Victoria until he had saved enough money for a bicycle. In 1952, they moved to Swift Current and set up a dry cleaning and tailoring business with Emmys brothers. They raised 5 daughters " Marylen, Diana, Carmen, Rita and Michelle and instilled in them a love for learning, and for music. Community service (Kinsmen & K-40s, Save the Children, Swift Current Music Festival & the Swift Current Allied Arts Council) and befriending new immigrants were always important to Dragi. The family grew to include sons-in-law (Frank Hart, Mark Schoenhals, Ian Preston & Russell Whitehead) grandchildren (Luc, Cosanna, Devin, Meg, Will, Lindsay, Jeff, Emmy Kate, Sofia & 3 year old Jamie, who stole his heart) and great-grandchildren (Alexander and Samson). He made each one feel special and loved, and always encouraged them to work hard and do their best, even as he teased them and told them fantastical stories. In 1999, Dragi and Emmy moved back to Regina where their children and grandchildren could gather more easily. While Dragi and Emmy visited Yugoslavia many times, he longed to develop a stronger connection between his Serbian family and his daughters. Accompanied by Diana, Rita & Michelle he visited his sisters, Simka & Vera and their children in Serbia in 2002 (his 80th birthday). The connection continued as he used his new-found love of email to keep in touch with Boban, his beloved nephew. Miodrag died on Sept. 21st, surrounded by his family after hearing the songs he loved so much. He spent his last few weeks with us, dispensing nuggets of wisdom to each who sat next to him. He joked with his nurses, learned Filipino words and continued to read his newspapers until he could no longer open his eyes. He gave us a chance to say goodbye and after Emmy, his companion of 60 years, caressed his cheek and said good night, he left us to become our Angel. Mios gentleness, his warm welcomes, and his famed singing of Santa Lucia touched many hearts along the way. Join us in a celebration of his life on Saturday, Sept 26, 2:30 pm at Speers Chapel on College Avenue, Regina. Donations may be made in Miodrags memory to the Hospitals of Regina Foundation (PO Box 1697, Regina, SK S4P 3C6).