BRENDA K. MILLIGAN

Brenda Milligan, 63 of Algona, passed away Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Council Bluffs. Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the West Bend United Methodist Church in West Bend. Interment took place at West Bend Cemetery in West Bend. Services have been entrusted to Lentz Funeral Home of West Bend. Online condolences may be left at www.lentzfuneralhome.com.
Brenda K (Ludwig) Milligan passed away, fittingly, on her birthday, surrounded by the love of her family, a final celebration in true Brenda fashion. She always did like to have fun. She leaves behind a legacy of warmth, strength and unmistakable style.
Brenda was many things: mother, grandma, sister, friend, but above all, she was someone who loved deeply and lived boldly. She was a little ornery, completely one of a kind and never afraid to say exactly what she thought. She took pride in looking her best. No one loved shopping more, and she had a special talent for finding the right gift, or 17. She did hair for many years, a profession she was proud of, helping others feel beautiful and confident.
Her most important job was her family. She loved her daughters, Lindsey and Emily, fiercely and wholeheartedly, and she was never shy about telling anyone how much she adored “her girls and those boys.” She treasured her grandsons, Julian and Lucian. Family meant everything to Brenda. Any place filled with laughter and togetherness quickly became “her people.” She had a way of walking into a room and being welcomed in.
Brenda spent her final few months at Lindsey and Jason’s home, where Sundays became sacred. She coined them “Sundays with Lindsey,” which meant shopping, lunch, cocktails and simply being together.
Emily’s house was her favorite place, her Iowa City home, where she spent time with Emily’s closest friends, who treated her like one of their own.
She and Sid also cherished their winter home in Arizona, where they spent time as snowbirds and made many happy memories together. Being surrounded by family was where she felt most at home.
In Brenda’s final days, when asked what her job in heaven would be, she didn’t hesitate. She said, “I will make people smile.”
And she did just that, effortlessly and often, through perfectly chosen gifts, sincere compliments and meals that gathered everyone close. It was never accidental; the smiles were always intentional.
Brenda was preceded in death by her father, Merel Ludwig; her husband, Sid Milligan; her brothers, Kent Ludwig and Kerry Ludwig; her mother’s longtime companion, Chuck Daley; and her beloved grandcat, Fran.
She is survived by her daughters, Lindsey (Jason) Bailey and Emily (Nick) Meister; her grandsons, Julian and Lucian; her grandpups, Mochi and Horton; her mother, Shirley Ludwig; her sisters, Susie (Karl) Borman and Jacque Ludwig; her brother, Mike Ludwig, and Jodi and many nieces and nephews.
She will be remembered for her love of beauty and her devotion to her children and grandchildren, and the joy she brought into a room. Her smile and her ability to create one in others will be her lasting gift.