Orrin J. Millie

Orrin James Millie, 91, of Winona, Minn. died Wednesday, September 21, 2005, at Lake Winona Manor in Winona, Minn. Orrin was born on March 28, 1914, in Houston County, Minn. to Martin and Gelena (Eiken) Millie. He was baptized at Highland Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Peterson, Minn. and confirmed at Rushford Lutheran Church in Rushford, Minn. Orrin married Ruby Doblar at Money Creek Methodist Church in Money Creek, Minn. on June 22, 1944. They had one daughter, Marsha. Orrin was a long time member of Trinity Lutheran Church in New York City, where he was a member of the Choir, Men's Club and Governing Council. Since retiring to Winona in 1976, Orrin has been a member of Central Lutheran Church. He attended South Fork and Baker schools and graduated from Rushford High School in 1931. Orrin helped run the family farm in the Rushford area until 1940. At that time, he went to New York City where he acquired on-the-job training in engineering at Metropole, Inc., a company that specialized in high intensity lighting equipment for the military. Metropole evolved into Genarco, Inc. and manufactured equipment for the space program, large theaters and stadiums. Orrin designed many of their products and held several patents. Orrin is survived by his daughter, Marsha (Kenneth) Fischl of Chicago, Ill. and two grandsons: Kenneth, Jr. (Shukti) of Boston, Mass. and Alexander (Deborah) of San Francisco, Cal. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby, his parents and two brothers, Arthur and Maynard.