Lynzi Rei Milano passed away on September 19, 2026, at the young age of 23, surrounded by the people she loved and in the arms of Vann Wilkins, her boyfriend, best friend, and love of ten years.

Lynzi was born February 19, 2003, in Clearlake, California, grew up in Lake County, and graduated from Lower Lake High School. She was the beloved daughter of Dave Milano and Emily Scheidemann, stepdaughter of Jessica Milano and Wayne Scheidemann, and sister of Aleia Milano, Jaela Damron, Tyrus Milano, Maya Milano, and Chelsey Scheidemann. She was deeply loved by her grandparents, Robert and Lynn Milano, Doug and Sissa Harris, and Alan Kuykendall, as well as her many aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family.

There are many ways to describe Lynzi, but perhaps the most important is that Lynzi loved people exceptionally well. She checked on everyone, remembered birthdays and little details, called just to say “I love you,” stood up for others, and gave more to people than she ever would to herself. So many people loved Lynzi, but her greatest legacy is how many people felt loved by her.

Lynzi was incredibly funny, with a goofy, childlike sense of wonder. Everyone and everything could earn a nickname. A squirrel became “Nuts the Squirrel,” while Aleia became “Sis Pants.” She never took herself too seriously and found humor even in life's darkest moments.

One of the greatest loves of Lynzi's life was Vann. Their story began as children at football practice, when Lynzi knew almost immediately that she loved him. In a letter she wrote as a little girl, she said she always knew she loved Vann and never planned on losing him. They grew up together, became best friends, and recently celebrated ten years as a couple. Vann loved Lynzi unconditionally through hair loss, vision loss, hospital stays, and everything life placed before them, while Lynzi always saw the best in him and pushed him to be his best self. Lynzi would undoubtedly still have something to say about who was actually the best quarterback—Vann, Tyrus, or herself.

Sports were woven throughout Lynzi's life. A naturally talented basketball player from childhood, she played basketball and volleyball throughout high school and even played football with the boys. She loved watching her siblings compete, rarely missed a game, and was an avid fantasy football player. She loved the 49ers, Warriors, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, and athletes including Fred Warner, Christian McCaffrey, Stephen Curry, Kelsey Mitchell, and Caitlin Clark.

Family was at the center of Lynzi's world. She and her dad, Dave, were incredibly close, sharing sports, coaching, great conversations, and football Sundays. She loved coaching alongside him, especially coaching Tyrus. Her mom, Emily, never missed a doctor's appointment and spent every waking moment she could beside Lynzi's hospital bed, caring and advocating for her. Outside the hospital, they loved pedicures, shopping, cooking, and listening to music together. Lynzi loved spending time with Jessica, especially when Jessica did her hair or they watched the younger sibling’s games together. Lynzi also shared a playful relationship with Wayne; they loved teasing Emily, having kitchen dance parties, and riding around on the Rhino.

Lynzi adored her siblings and her many, many cousins. She loved watching her siblings play sports, traveling with them, and simply being together. Family trips, holidays, sporting events, and ordinary days with family were some of her favorite things.

Lynzi had a special heart for children. She coached basketball with kindness while encouraging kids to reach their potential. She dreamed of becoming a social worker in a pediatric hospital because she knew what it was like to be the child in the hospital bed and wanted other children to feel understood, protected, and less afraid.

Lynzi faced brain and spine cancer three times. Though illness took so much from her—her health, vision, sports, and many experiences of an ordinary childhood—and she even lost her home in a fire, she never allowed those losses to define her. Cancer was something Lynzi endured, but it was never who she was.

Lynzi found enormous happiness in simple things: karaoke, Japanese food, her pets, the beach, family trips, shopping, and decorating for the holidays. She especially loved Christmas and giving thoughtful gifts. She and Vann could turn a trip to Ross or HomeGoods into an adventure and come home with something random and fun.

Her best friends JJ, Julius, and Sam meant the world to her, and Lynzi loved her friends with the same loyalty she gave her family.

Lynzi had so many plans. She wanted to marry Vann, have children, become a social worker, and travel the world. She dreamed of Paris, New York City, and the Grand Canyon. She and Aleia dreamed of someday sharing a large property where their homes could be close and their children could grow up together.

Lynzi's family is profoundly grateful to those who cared for her throughout her life, including Dr. Partap, Dr. Bhatia, Dr. Beres, her social worker Chelsea, and the medical teams who cared for her.

Lynzi's life was far too short, but it was extraordinarily full. She leaves behind people who are kinder because she was kind to them, children who felt capable because Coach Lynzi believed in them, and a family and friends who never had to wonder whether she loved them.

Above everything else, Lynzi was a woman of God. Her faith was the foundation of who she was, visible in her compassion, generosity, courage, forgiveness, selflessness, and care for others. Through circumstances that tested her again and again, Lynzi held onto God. When life gave her every reason to become bitter, she continued choosing joy, kindness, humor, and love.

Lynzi loved Jesus, and she lived like she loved Jesus. Her family rests in the promise that this goodbye is not forever, and that one day, through Christ, we will see her again.

A celebration of life for the community will be held at Lower Lake High School in the Udy Gym, Saturday, October 3rd at 1 pm. Please bring a story about Lynzi to share that can be saved in a remembrance book.