Milan Robert Laudon, 97, of Rochester died Thursday September 15th at Samaritan Bethany Nursing Home in Rochester where he had resided for 2 months. Milan was born to Anna (Franzen) and Arthur Laudon on August 28, 1919 in Elmira Township in rural Olmsted County. He was raised on a farm in Pleasant Grove Township. He attended school through 8th grade, when he left school to help on the family farm. He entered the U.S. Army on March 25, 1941 at Fort Snelling. He served as a sergeant in the 6th Signal Corp of the 6th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. As a lineman in telephone communications his group was responsible for communication from Division Headquarters out to the forward frontline combat positions. He served his country honorably over 4 years in the jungles of New Guinea and the Philippines. He and his fellow soldiers of the Sixth Army were preparing for the first phase of the invasion of the Japanese mainland when Japan’s surrender ended the war. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on November 9th, 1945.
Milan married Cecelia Eickhoff on June 25, 1943 in Los Angeles while on Army leave. After the war they resided in Rochester and had two sons, Dale and Michael. Cecelia died of leukemia in February of 1960. He married Mary Befort on December 2, 1961 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Rochester. Together they had two sons, Dennis and Steven. Mary died of cancer in November of 1993.
After returning from World War II Milan initially worked in the construction industry and for the City of Rochester. Milan spent most of his working life as a proud IBM employee. He began working for IBM Rochester in May of 1957, less than one year after IBM operations began in Rochester. After training at the Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis he worked in electrical maintenance at IBM for 28 years. Milan retired in June of 1985.
Milan was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rochester for over 60 years. He was also a longtime member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles and the American Legion. Milan enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening and a cold beer. In his later years he enjoyed his morning breakfast and bull sessions with his friends at Hy-Vee North.
Milan is survived by sons: Dale (Kim) of Ham Lake MN, Dennis (Laura) of Rochester, and Steve of Wautoma WI. Four granddaughters, four grandsons, four great-grandchildren, and a brother, Robert, of St. Charles also survive him. He was preceded in death by wives Cecelia (1960) and Mary (1993), son Michael (2011) and siblings: Kenneth, Clarence, Norman, and Marguerite Lawrence.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday September 21, 2016 at St. Pius X Catholic Church at 11AM with Father Charlie Collins officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by American Legion Post 92 of Rochester.
Memorials are preferred to St. Pius X Catholic Church of Rochester.
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