Obituary: Jodi Ann Milske

May 29, 1953 ~ April 15, 2022

Jodi Ann Milske, 68, of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, died on Friday, April 15, 2022.

Jodi was born on May 29, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois to Vladimir and Joan (Patrie) Tajer.  When she was 22 months old her mother remarried, to James Milske of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, by whom Jodi was adopted.  The Milskes lived for several years in Manitowoc and Green Bay before settling in the town of Buchanan near Kimberly, Wisconsin.

Jodi graduated from Kimberly High School in 1971 and went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Minnesota, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology in 1976 and a Master’s degree in Geology in 1982.  She met her husband, William Rice, in graduate school and they were married December 15, 1979 in St. Paul, Minnesota.  After spending 10 years in Minneapolis, the couple and their 1½ year old son moved to Brussels, Wisconsin, where they would spend the next 25 years together.

Jodi spent most of her professional career working in groundwater geology and land conservation, helping to preserve thousands of acres of Door County’s most important natural areas.  In her personal life, Jodi kayaked, hiked, gardened, practiced fiber arts and basketry, and loved to travel.  She was active in Leader Dogs for the Blind, the Door County YMCA and Open Door Pride.  She was a passionate advocate for the natural world and the welfare of animals, a loving wife, mother, sister and friend, and a thoroughly extraordinary and talented person.

She is survived by one son, Steven (Corinne) Rice of Sturgeon Bay; one grandchild, Matilda Rice of Sturgeon Bay; two brothers, Gary (Kathy) Milske of Kimberly and Steven (Sharon) Milske of Appleton; William Rice of Brussels; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and in-laws.  Jodi was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Guy in 1986 and her sister Patricia in 2020.

A memorial service will be held in the summer of 2022 – date and locality to be determined.  Jodi’s family asks that donations be made in Jodi’s memory to the ASPCA or the World Wildlife Fund, two causes near and dear to her heart.

Jodi’s family extend their deepest gratitude to the staff of the Door County Medical Center and Unity Hospice for their exceptional care and compassion.  Online condolences may be offered at www.forbesfuneralhome.com