Theresa Louise (Milburn) Tischer

Freeport – Theresa Louise (Milburn) Tischer (89) of Freeport, Illinois passed away on September 26, 2026. She passed away at Mercy Health Hospital after a brief illness.

She was born on September 27, 1936, in Bunker Hill, West Virginia, the daughter of Harold Milburn and Leona (Dillard) Milburn. She had four brothers, Howard, Virgil, Kenneth, and Robert Milburn; and seven sisters, Carol Milburn, Sharon Watkins, Donna Wilson, Betty Leonard, Barbara Lucas, Karen Milburn, Vietta Euler.

She grew up in Parkersburg, West Virginia and settled in Freeport, IL.

She was a Veteran of the U.S. Navy serving as a Secretary in the Navy in Baltimore, MD between the Korean and Vietnam Wars. She was employed at Structo, was a Manager of the Auto Department of Sears, and retired from Micro Switch after 17 years.

Theresa was an avid reader, enjoyed nature, puzzles, playing cards, going to garage sales and thrifting, she was also a great baker (especially chocolate pie and cherry chocolate upside down cake). She enjoyed going on special bus trips with friends, including mystery trips, casinos, Nashville, and Branson, MO. She loved listening to country and gospel music, some of her favorite singers were Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family and friends.

Theresa married Eugene Cross on December 24, 1957, in Parkersburg, WV. Together they had four children, Todd Cross, Clyde (Jeanne) Cross of Freeport, IL, and Yolonda (Frank Whalen) Cross, and Roland Cross. In addition, she adopted, Melinda (Milburn) Marcum of Richmond Hill, Georgia. She later married Roscoe Tischer. She was a mother and grandmother figure to many others, including Kathy Guzzardo and her children Fran and Mariah.

She had 8 grandchildren, Amber Cross, Michelle Cross of Bloomington, IL; Elliot (Sarah Qanbar) Cross of Colorado Springs, CO; Dustin Baumgartner of Mt Carroll, IL; Russell Cross of Florida; Colton Milburn of Dekalb, IL, CJ, and Cyle Saxby of Freeport, IL.

She had 7 great grandchildren, 21 nieces and nephews and 19 great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; 2 sisters, Carol Milburn and Vietta Euler; two sons, Todd and Roland Cross; one granddaughter, Amber Cross, and special friends Connie Johnson and LaVerne Kampmeier.

There will be a visitation held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 12-1 p.m. at Burke-Tubbs. The service will immediately follow at 1 p.m. with Pastor Gavin Brandt presiding over services.

Condolences can be left for the family at https://www.burketubbs.com/obituaries.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to the Friends Forever Humane Society of Freeport, IL.