John A. Milne

John “Jack” Arthur Milne, age 83, of Manahawkin, NJ passed away on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

Born in Staten Island, NY, at Sunnyside Hospital in Mariners Harbor, Jack lived in Staten Island until 1993 and simultaneously resided in Flemington, NJ, from 1992, until 2006. He resided full-time in Manahawkin from 2006 until the present.

Jack attended the College of Staten Island where he received his associate’s degree. He served in United States Marine Corps Reserves during the Vietnam War. Jack joined the Marines in 1964 and did his basic training in Camp Lejeune, NC. He was stationed in California, where he attended electronics school. On his return to Staten Island, he was employed by General Electric before joining FDNY.

Jack was a proud member of the New York City Fire Department for 25 years from Sep 14, 1968, to Sep 29, 1993, serving multiple fire houses for 21 years. Most spent most of the 21 years with Engine Company 201 (Ladder 114 / Battalion 40) quartered on 4th Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. His job was the nozzleman “Putting the wet stuff on the red stuff.” He was lovingly referred to as JBOOGIE. Jack’s last 4 years with FDNY were as a Fire Marshal. FDNY fire marshals are law enforcement officers who investigate complex, fatal and suspicious fires, and have the power to arrest for arson and other crimes within New York City. Jack loved telling the fun stories of his time with FDNY. All the horrific, disturbing stories were left unsaid, which is true for all our military, first responders and frontline workers who keep us whole by defending, protecting, and healing our bodies and souls. 

After his retirement from the FDNY, he served 10 years as a Sheriff’s Officer in Hunterdon County, NJ. As a sworn police officer within the Sheriff’s Office, Jack was responsible for prisoner escorts to and from court, serving warrants and writs of execution, investigation of violations of non-support and probation.

Jack always kept busy. He had to be doing something productive. He had multiple part-time jobs including owning and running a painting business on Staten Island, delivering and peddling plants and flowers for ACE Greenhouse in Flemington, working as a handyman for multiple condo associations in Flemington and the surrounding area. 

After moving to Manahawkin full-time, he became very involved in the Manahawkin Elks lodge #2340, where he was a member for 30 years. Jack headed the Veterans Committee for many years, providing steadfast and loyal support to honor veterans and active military. He was proud of all the work that was accomplished by taking veterans fishing, running entertainment events to honor veterans, providing personal care packages to those veterans in need, supporting Vineland Veterans Memorial Home and Veterans Haven South, and taking an active role in the NJ Run For The Fallen. On most Wednesday mornings, you could find Jack setting up chairs and tables for that night’s Bingo games, and for a number of years, selling Bingo cards at the Elks evening Bingo games. He was in charge of receiving and handling no longer serviceable American Flags, from the local community, for proper disposal in a dignified manner. Most recently, Jack took great efforts and was very proud, assisting with the set-up of the Veterans Memorial Garden in the front of the Elks. It is really a beautiful tribute to our Veterans. Jack was also very active recruiting new Elk members and could always be seen in the Elks Lounge welcoming new members and recruiting them to become active on the various committees.

Jack was also a member of Moose Lodge 1575, in Manahawkin, and American Legion Post 493, in Mystic Island. He enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and reading the NY Daily News every morning. Jack thoroughly enjoyed and loved setting up multiple flowerpots for his home’s back deck. He spent countless hours designing and planting twenty plus pots to make the deck look like a small tropical island paradise for family and friends to enjoy. Jack was also a wonderful cook. He had a lot of practice at FDNY 201 and brought that skill to many family meals. 

Jack is predeceased by his parents, Arthur O. and Madeline Barnes Milne. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Sharon A. McGovern, his children: Kathleen Cox, Steven Milne and Melissa Milne, of Tucson, AZ, Deborah & Roy Langley and Denise Brenner of Charlotte, NC, his grandchildren: Richard Schmitt, Sharon & Daniel Friedl, Patrick Lichowid, Garrett Langley, Forrest Kerwin, and Graham Kerwin, his brother, Robert Milne, his cherished extended family members all of whom he loved, and his wonderful friends he enjoyed being with. 

He cherished his many happy, loving moments spent with family and friends.

Visiting hours will be Sunday, November 3, 2024, from 12:00PM to 4:00PM with a blessing service 3:30pm at Maxwell-Tobie Funeral Home & Cremation Service, LLC, 573 Mill Creek Road, Manahawkin, NJ 08050. Cremation will be private.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in his memory to the Stafford Township Fire Company, 133 Stafford Ave Stafford Township, NJ 08050 or Joan Dancy & PALS at www.joandancyandpals.org