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| | | John Mills |  | | Born: 05/17/1923 | | Birth Location: Estherville, Iowa | | Death Date: 11/10/2008 | | Death Location:Emmetsburg, Iowa | | Service: A memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 14th at the Joyce Funeral Home with Military Rites by the V.F.W. Post 2295. | | Visitation: The family will greet friends one hour prior to the funeral service at the funeral home on Friday. | |
John Melvin Mills was born May 17th, 1923, in Estherville, one of eleven children born to Arlie Harrison and Frances (Carson) Mills. He attended school in Graettinger.
A Navy veteran of World War II, John served on several ships and was engaged in battles in the western Pacific, including Guam, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. His was the 13th ship to enter Tokyo Bay for the surrender of Japan and the end of hostilities. He served on the initial Japan Occupational Force and was honorably discharged upon his return home. Like most veterans of this war, he was quiet about the fighting, but it is known that he was the director for a gun mount that shot down several kamikaze aircraft, saving the ship from destruction.
On February 25, 1944, John Mills and Marjorie Helen Weir were married in St. Paul, Minnesota. They initially made their home in Graettinger before moving to Emmetsburg. They also lived in Pixtown, South Dakota and Algona, Iowa before returning to Emmetsburg in 1960 to the family home they built at 1602 Lawler.
John spent most of his working years driving trucks, however he also served as a Justice of the Peace and a Police Radio Dispatcher for several years in Emmetsburg. In the 1940s and 1950s he worked construction on the Fort Randall Dam in South Dakota and also at Thule, Greenland, helping to build the United States Defense Early Warning (DEW) Radar facility and Air Force Base. John was a lifetime member of VFW Post # 2295 and a past member of the peace officers organization. John was proud to be a life-long Democrat and was thrilled to cast his vote in last week’s election.
Generous to others, it is said no person ever left his house hungry. John also once picked up a hitch-hiker who was trying to get to Chicago to visit his sick daughter, and drove the man all the way from Emmetsburg to the Illinois border. John always enjoyed family events, from the Mills family reunions, to Fourth of July festivities, to singing carols around the Christmas tree. Celebrations with family meant the world to him.
John was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son Gerald Earl Mills, his brothers Earl, Dale, Kenneth, Don and Alvin, and his sister Alice Ploghoft.
Mr. Mills is survived by his wife, Marge, two daughters, Judy (John) Chihak, and Cheryl (Kevin) Kelly; two sons, Ken (Carol) Mills and Daniel (Lisa) Mills. Also surviving are his sisters Eva (Stan) Kotula, Betty Pompe and Shirley Funk and his brother Robert Mills. Surviving grandchildren include grandsons Ben and Andy Chihak, Ned and Nicholas Kelly; granddaughters Michele Mills, Melanie (Robbye) Ron, Jaclyn Mills, and Kellie (Dustin) Luurtsema. He had three great grandchildren, Nicholas Luurtsema, Diego Ron and Mateo Ron.
John is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
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| | | Posted at: 11/18/2008 | | By: Mrs. Sandi Watkins | | Dear Family of John Mills,
I want to express my sincere sympathy for the loss of your loved one. You can be assured that hope and encouragement needed is found in the Bible. In the Bible book of Revelations 21, 4 we read of a time when every tear will be wiped from our eyes. Please take care of yourselves.
Sincerely
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| | Posted at: 11/13/2008 | | By: David & Nadine Kelly | | Our sincere sympathies are extended to Marge and family, Cheryl, Kevin, and Nick and Ned. From Naples, Florida. |
| | Posted at: 11/13/2008 | | By: Betty Leners & Richard Thiel | | Our thoughts are with you and your family. |
| | Posted at: 11/12/2008 | | By: Keith and Loretta and families | | Dear All:
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. John is no longer suffering, and that is good. Hugs and love. From one of the families "next door." |
| | Posted at: 11/12/2008 | | By: Kristy Duus Simington | | To Marge and the Mill's family:
My sympathy to all of you with the loss of your husband and father. I worked with him through Hospice and always enjoyed my visits with him. His personality was stern, but he always had a smile after he tried to be "bossy". Marge, you took very good care of John with all of your visits and it was apparent that he loved you very much. My thoughts are with all of you at this time. |
| | Posted at: 11/11/2008 | | By: Mary, Mike and Mollie Minear | | I am so so sorry about Johnny. I know that he is at peace and that he struggled so. We are all sending prayers and our thoughts for all of you in this very difficult time. Please know how much all of you are loved! Mary, Mike and Mollie Minear |
| | Posted at: 11/11/2008 | | By: Ron & Karen Musselman | | So sorry to hear about your husband and father. May God grant you his comfort. |
| | Posted at: 11/11/2008 | | By: Robert and Jane Mills JR | | Our thoughts are with you. |
| | Posted at: 11/11/2008 | | By: Kent Immerfall | | Classmate Kenny, Family, & Friends, Please accept our deepest sympathies, at the loss of a Great Man. He had to be a great person to bare such a wonderful son as Kenny. Kenny, your classmates morn with you through this trying time. All of the Fine Qualities that John possessed will live on in all who knew and loved him. Kent Immerfall |
| | Posted at: 11/11/2008 | | By: Wells Fargo Bank - Fort Dodge | | The thoughts and prayers of our team members are with you in this difficult time. |
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