Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Amy Whitney

MILWAUKEE, WI—Lt. Colonel (ret.) Amy Caroline Whitney, 75, of Milwaukee, WI, entered her celestial life on Sunday, February 23, 2025, following a brief stay in hospice at Luther Manor in Milwaukee after a many years’ long battle with cancer.

The 1950 Carroll County New Year’s Baby was born January 2, 1950, at the Savanna City Hospital, the daughter of Helen and Kenneth Whitney of Chadwick, IL. She joined siblings Jonathan and Cynthia.

She was a 1968 graduate of Chadwick High School and entered the United States Air Force immediately following her graduation, serving for two years. While in the Air Force she met and married Joseph Briggs of Mauldin, South Carolina, on February 26, 1970, in Great Falls, Montana. The couple had three children, Michael, James and Kimberly before divorcing.

Amy resided in South Carolina where she joined the US Army Reserves, moving to Mt. Carroll and later to Freeport while working as a civilian for the United States Army Reserve and also serving as a member of the Reserves. She attended Officer Candidate School with the Illinois National Guard graduating as a Second Lieutenant. She later moved to Milwaukee, WI, where she continued working as a civilian for the Reserves and also serving as a Reserve officer advancing in 2003 to the rank of Lt. Colonel. From 2006 to 2008 she was activated as a full-time member of the reserves supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, prior to retiring from the Army in 2010 with 33 years of service.

She enjoyed reading, quilting, her pet cats and following retirement traveling, particularly to other countries including Korea and China, as well as Turkey, Spain, Belgium, and others with the Army.

She is survived by her son Micheal Briggs of Milwaukee, WI, her son James Briggs of Duncan, South Carolina, and her daughter Kimberly (Briggs) Adams of Duncan, South Carolina, grandchildren Alyssa Beaver, Cody Beaver, Devin Adams, Thomas Briggs, and Anna Briggs, and great-grandson Jeremy Wells, her brother Jon Whitney (Nancy) of Thomson, IL, and sister Cynthia (Bill Shelton) Whitney of Olney, IL, and many nephews, nieces and cousins.

Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Law Jones Funeral Home in Thomson. A military service with full military honors conducted by honor guard from the Thomson American Legion will be held at 12:00 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial next to the funeral home following the visitation. A time of reflection on her life with refreshments will follow.