PORTLAND — John F. Milligan, 82, died in Portland on Thursday, Nov. 3, surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer. He was formerly of Rumford.

Born in Rumford on June 6, 1929, he was a son of the late Ambrose and Reta (Peabody) Milligan. He was a graduate of Stephens High School with the Class of 1947. He served in the U.S. Army as a corporal during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953.

He worked as a superintendent on the paper machines for Oxford Paper Co. and Ethyl Corp. in Rumford from 1947 to 1974 and then for S.D. Warren in Westbrook from 1974 to 1981, transferring to S.D. Warren in Skowhegan from 1981 to 1990. He became a consultant for Weavexx Corp. from 1990 to 1996. He was proud and often talked about his nearly 50-year career in the pulp and paper industries.

John was a devoted husband who had been his wife’s primary caregiver for the past 15 years. He never forgot her birthday or anniversary with flowers for their 58 years of marriage. Family always came first and he had a great sense of humor, which will be remembered for generations to come. He valued his family and grandchildren. He loved to travel and spent winters in Florida where he would entertain his grandchildren and summers in Weld. He was a member of the American Legion, an avid cribbage player, loved gardening, and also enjoyed hunting and fishing.

He was married in Rumford on May 9, 1953, to Alice Anderson, who survives of Portland. Other survivors include two sons, John and his wife, Joy, of Cape Elizabeth, Aaron and his wife, Jill, of Scarborough; a daughter, Maureen Willey and her husband, Bob, of Sherborn, Mass.; two brothers, Earl Milligan and his wife, Edie, of Rumford and Merle Milligan and his wife, Katherine, of Florida; sisters, Shirley Farwell and her husband, Warren, of Rumford and Nellie Burgess of Rumford; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by two infant children, baby boy Robert and baby girl Milligan; six brothers, Philip, Sabon, Harold, Allie, Carl and Pat; and two sisters, Minnie Hallett and Barbara Noble.

The family would like to send a special thanks to all physicians and his health care providers at Hospice of Southern Maine and the Cedars of Portland. Online condolences and shared memories may be expressed with the family at www.meaderandson.com.