Richard
Richard Mills
Richard passed away Monday, June 29, 2015 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Dick was born August 15, 1931 in Kalamazoo, to Richard and Teresa (Farrell) Mills. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central in 1949. Soon after, he met the love of his life, Joyce (Hummel) Mills and they would have celebrated 64 years together on July 27, 2015. Dick taught his kids his own strong work ethic and retired in 1992 from Consumers Power Company after almost 40 years. He was a skilled craftsman and could build or fix anything as long as he could plan it out with his notebook and pencil. He was a life member of the B.P.O.E. Lodge #1711 in Otsego.
Besides his wife Joyce, Dick is survived by his children, Tim (Debbie) Mills, Emily Mills, Linda (Dan) Froelich and John Mills, all of Otsego; 11 grandchildren, Cristin, Bryon, Katie, Tony, Karen, Tamaris, Nick, Rich, Monica, Lance and Alayna; 9 great-grandchildren, Klayre, Devon, Elaina, Carter, Corey, Chance, Cash, Raegan and Gabrielle; sisters, Marion Holevas and Florence Violante; along with several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Helen Ketcham, Marge Mills, Kay Grabner, Bob Mills and Thomas Mills; and a great-grandson, Derrick.
In accordance with his wishes cremation has taken place and no service will be held.
Contributions in memory of Dick may be made to Hospice of S.W. Michigan or Kalamazoo animal Rescue.
Messages of condolence may be posted at www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
Offer Condolence for the family of Richard Mills
Condolence Messages
Dee and Pete Krcatovich
June 29, 2015 at 5:21 pm
Dear Joyce, Em, Linda, Tim, John and families,
There are few words that can be said at a time of such deep sorrow and loss as the passing your Husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Great Grandpa. I’m sorry doesn’t seem to suffice, but sharing with you what a great guy I thought Dick was, I hope helps. There were so many things to love about Dick, his uncanny sense of humor, his love for Halloween when the kids were little and we would take them over for their treats, the “talks” that you could witness while driving by the house when you lived on Morrell Street and saw him sitting at the table in the big kitchen window with one or more of you kids, his command of the English language that Em and I teased back and forth with each other about both of our Dads, his love and respect for people, and his immense love for his family. Dick was an all around good guy, and he will be deeply missed. Our condolences and love to the entire family. May God comfort you and give you peace at this time.
Love,
Pete and Dee
Reply
Sherry Wiltshire
June 29, 2015 at 5:40 pm
Tim and family, sorry to hear of your loss. You are in my prayers.
Reply
Deb and Tim Anderson
June 29, 2015 at 10:27 pm
Dear Joyce, Em, Linda, Tim, John and families,
We are so sorry to hear of Dick’s passing knowing the grief and deep heartache it causes his family and friends. I am certain you are all very happy knowing he is no longer suffering and in pain, but is whole once again. There were so many things to LOVE about Dick that it would be impossible to list them all. I always remember when running into Dick in a store or on the street you would get this smile and long pause and you knew there was going to be some humurous remark about to come your way. His Love for his family always made him shine with pride. He was there to lend a helping hand to anyone that needed one. Yes Em and Linda I do remember you speaking of the meetings around the table with Dick, but just think without them you would of not turned out to be the GREAT people that you are. I wished there were words to take away the sorrow, but each of you give yourselves time to grieve and lean on God to help you through this difficult time. He will truly be missed by all, but he will be with you through your memories and he will live on in your hearts. Each of you have our sincerest sympathy.
Love,
Deb and Tim
Reply
RON HAGEMAN
June 29, 2015 at 11:49 pm
SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS PRAYERS FROM THE HAGEMAN FAMILY HE SURE WILL BE MISSED.
Reply
Gloria Ross Landman
June 30, 2015 at 6:48 am
I am sorry to hear of your loss. I was a classmate and would often see him at Gun Lake when he was making repairs for Consumers.
He and my dad had a special bond as my father used to be employed with Consumers. They used to tell each other their stories about working for Consumers. My deepest sympathy to the family. He is now at peace.
Reply
Stef Cooley Nelson and Dave Makela
June 30, 2015 at 9:44 am
Joyce, Em, Linda, Tim, John and Families.
We are so sorry to hear about the passing of Dick. We are wrapping our arms around all of you with love and prayers. Keep your memories close to you and they will bring you comfort in the difficult days and months ahead.
Love Stef and Dave
Reply
Jim and Jean Cronkhite
June 30, 2015 at 10:38 am
Joyce and entire Mills family,
We were so sorry to hear of Dick’s passing. Our thoughts are with you all. My fondest memory of Dick is all the lectures he had with Tim and myself at the kitchen table. And yes, I wanted that last piece of pizza.
Jim
Reply
Glenn and Marilyn
June 30, 2015 at 10:44 am
Our thoughts and prayers and sympathy go out to the Mills Family. So sorry for your loss.
Reply
Pete Loftus
June 30, 2015 at 11:03 am
Dick Mills was a great man. I really valued him has a friend from the old days at the Lighthouse. He always had a word of encouragement.
Reply
Stef Cooley Nelson and Dave Makela
June 30, 2015 at 11:42 am
Joyce, Em, Linda, Tim, John and Families
Keeping you and your family in our thoughts and prayers. I am sorry for the loss of Dick. Keep your memories close to your heart and I hope they bring you comfort. Prayers, Hugs and Love
Stef and Mack
Reply
Cindy Culver Gordon
June 30, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Emily, Linda and family
Sorry to hear of the passing of your father. I never knew him personally, but he sounds like a great dad! My condolences to all.
Sincerely,
Cindy Culver
Reply
Jerry and Christy Petill
June 30, 2015 at 2:17 pm
The Mills family
So sorry to hear about Dick’s passing. I’m so glad I was able to sit and visit with he and Joyce during the last few trips they made up here to the U.P. Another fond memory I’ll hold on to. You are all in our thoughts.
Jerry
Reply
Don & Sherri Ferguson
June 30, 2015 at 3:14 pm
Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless
Reply
Dr. Catherine Ann Moon PhD.
June 30, 2015 at 5:52 pm
Our Thoughts and Prayers are with you and your Family Joyce.
I really enjoyed my visit with both of you right after I returned from the Hospital last year. Dick and I discussed in detail what my plans were to remodel our home. You can be sure I will use many of his ideas. He was a very nice man who certainly took the time to explain many things about remodeling a home to me during my visit.
We will always miss him sitting there in your sun room waving to us as we drove by. He was a very kind and knowledgeable man.
We are very sorry to lose such a good neighbor …..
William and Catherine Moon.
Reply
George & Carol Hoffman
June 30, 2015 at 8:32 pm
Tim & family …. we are so sorry to hear of your loss.
Reply
Mary Ellen Woodstock
June 30, 2015 at 10:35 pm
Dick, though younger was always like a big brother too me, helping me thru some stressful times with kind and understanding advise. I will love and miss you and do what I can to help you Joyce (my sister cousin) thru this.
Reply
Kathy and John Sloan
July 1, 2015 at 7:39 am
Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family today and throughout the days ahead.
Reply
Lennie Borgman
July 1, 2015 at 8:53 am
I am so sorry to hear of Dick’s passing and my heart goes out to your entire family. He will be greatly missed. I knew him as a good man who truly loved his family.
Reply
Don & Nancy Williams
July 1, 2015 at 9:23 am
Joyce and Family
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Dick always had a smile on his face when we stopped for coffee. We will miss him very much.
Reply
Jerry and Judy Shumaker
July 1, 2015 at 11:26 am
To Joyce and all of Dick’s Family. Please know that we are sending our most sincere sympathy and thoughts to all of you on the loss of Dick. He was a great guy and always seemed so easy going. We had not seen him in quite a few years but we think about him and even mention him from time to time because he wired our house for us when we had it built 45 years ago and we always appreciated that so very much. Anything electrical brings back memories of Dick. 🙂 He was just an all around good guy and had wise things to say that showed how intelligent he was. We do not know what took him from this earth, but we read where you had Hospice so he must have been sick for a while. Please know that we are so sorry for your loss and we know that you will miss him very much. May your fond memories bring you peace in the coming months and years. Take care now.
Reply
Anne Marie Bartz
July 4, 2015 at 8:51 am
So sorry to read of Dick’s passing. Many good memories of times at Big Spec Lake.
Reply
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Besides his wife Joyce, Dick is survived by his children, Tim (Debbie) Mills, Emily Mills, Linda (Dan) Froelich and John Mills, all of Otsego; 11 grandchildren, Cristin, Bryon, Katie, Tony, Karen, Tamaris, Nick, Rich, Monica, Lance and Alayna; 9 great-grandchildren, Klayre, Devon, Elaina, Carter, Corey, Chance, Cash, Raegan and Gabrielle; sisters, Marion Holevas and Florence Violante; along with several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Helen Ketcham, Marge Mills, Kay Grabner, Bob Mills and Thomas Mills; and a great-grandson, Derrick.
In accordance with his wishes cremation has taken place and no service will be held.
Contributions in memory of Dick may be made to Hospice of S.W. Michigan or Kalamazoo animal Rescue.
Messages of condolence may be posted at www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
Offer Condolence for the family of Richard Mills
Condolence Messages
Dee and Pete Krcatovich
June 29, 2015 at 5:21 pm
Dear Joyce, Em, Linda, Tim, John and families,
There are few words that can be said at a time of such deep sorrow and loss as the passing your Husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Great Grandpa. I’m sorry doesn’t seem to suffice, but sharing with you what a great guy I thought Dick was, I hope helps. There were so many things to love about Dick, his uncanny sense of humor, his love for Halloween when the kids were little and we would take them over for their treats, the “talks” that you could witness while driving by the house when you lived on Morrell Street and saw him sitting at the table in the big kitchen window with one or more of you kids, his command of the English language that Em and I teased back and forth with each other about both of our Dads, his love and respect for people, and his immense love for his family. Dick was an all around good guy, and he will be deeply missed. Our condolences and love to the entire family. May God comfort you and give you peace at this time.
Love,
Pete and Dee
Reply
Sherry Wiltshire
June 29, 2015 at 5:40 pm
Tim and family, sorry to hear of your loss. You are in my prayers.
Reply
Deb and Tim Anderson
June 29, 2015 at 10:27 pm
Dear Joyce, Em, Linda, Tim, John and families,
We are so sorry to hear of Dick’s passing knowing the grief and deep heartache it causes his family and friends. I am certain you are all very happy knowing he is no longer suffering and in pain, but is whole once again. There were so many things to LOVE about Dick that it would be impossible to list them all. I always remember when running into Dick in a store or on the street you would get this smile and long pause and you knew there was going to be some humurous remark about to come your way. His Love for his family always made him shine with pride. He was there to lend a helping hand to anyone that needed one. Yes Em and Linda I do remember you speaking of the meetings around the table with Dick, but just think without them you would of not turned out to be the GREAT people that you are. I wished there were words to take away the sorrow, but each of you give yourselves time to grieve and lean on God to help you through this difficult time. He will truly be missed by all, but he will be with you through your memories and he will live on in your hearts. Each of you have our sincerest sympathy.
Love,
Deb and Tim
Reply
RON HAGEMAN
June 29, 2015 at 11:49 pm
SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS PRAYERS FROM THE HAGEMAN FAMILY HE SURE WILL BE MISSED.
Reply
Gloria Ross Landman
June 30, 2015 at 6:48 am
I am sorry to hear of your loss. I was a classmate and would often see him at Gun Lake when he was making repairs for Consumers.
He and my dad had a special bond as my father used to be employed with Consumers. They used to tell each other their stories about working for Consumers. My deepest sympathy to the family. He is now at peace.
Reply
Stef Cooley Nelson and Dave Makela
June 30, 2015 at 9:44 am
Joyce, Em, Linda, Tim, John and Families.
We are so sorry to hear about the passing of Dick. We are wrapping our arms around all of you with love and prayers. Keep your memories close to you and they will bring you comfort in the difficult days and months ahead.
Love Stef and Dave
Reply
Jim and Jean Cronkhite
June 30, 2015 at 10:38 am
Joyce and entire Mills family,
We were so sorry to hear of Dick’s passing. Our thoughts are with you all. My fondest memory of Dick is all the lectures he had with Tim and myself at the kitchen table. And yes, I wanted that last piece of pizza.
Jim
Reply
Glenn and Marilyn
June 30, 2015 at 10:44 am
Our thoughts and prayers and sympathy go out to the Mills Family. So sorry for your loss.
Reply
Pete Loftus
June 30, 2015 at 11:03 am
Dick Mills was a great man. I really valued him has a friend from the old days at the Lighthouse. He always had a word of encouragement.
Reply
Stef Cooley Nelson and Dave Makela
June 30, 2015 at 11:42 am
Joyce, Em, Linda, Tim, John and Families
Keeping you and your family in our thoughts and prayers. I am sorry for the loss of Dick. Keep your memories close to your heart and I hope they bring you comfort. Prayers, Hugs and Love
Stef and Mack
Reply
Cindy Culver Gordon
June 30, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Emily, Linda and family
Sorry to hear of the passing of your father. I never knew him personally, but he sounds like a great dad! My condolences to all.
Sincerely,
Cindy Culver
Reply
Jerry and Christy Petill
June 30, 2015 at 2:17 pm
The Mills family
So sorry to hear about Dick’s passing. I’m so glad I was able to sit and visit with he and Joyce during the last few trips they made up here to the U.P. Another fond memory I’ll hold on to. You are all in our thoughts.
Jerry
Reply
Don & Sherri Ferguson
June 30, 2015 at 3:14 pm
Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless
Reply
Dr. Catherine Ann Moon PhD.
June 30, 2015 at 5:52 pm
Our Thoughts and Prayers are with you and your Family Joyce.
I really enjoyed my visit with both of you right after I returned from the Hospital last year. Dick and I discussed in detail what my plans were to remodel our home. You can be sure I will use many of his ideas. He was a very nice man who certainly took the time to explain many things about remodeling a home to me during my visit.
We will always miss him sitting there in your sun room waving to us as we drove by. He was a very kind and knowledgeable man.
We are very sorry to lose such a good neighbor …..
William and Catherine Moon.
Reply
George & Carol Hoffman
June 30, 2015 at 8:32 pm
Tim & family …. we are so sorry to hear of your loss.
Reply
Mary Ellen Woodstock
June 30, 2015 at 10:35 pm
Dick, though younger was always like a big brother too me, helping me thru some stressful times with kind and understanding advise. I will love and miss you and do what I can to help you Joyce (my sister cousin) thru this.
Reply
Kathy and John Sloan
July 1, 2015 at 7:39 am
Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family today and throughout the days ahead.
Reply
Lennie Borgman
July 1, 2015 at 8:53 am
I am so sorry to hear of Dick’s passing and my heart goes out to your entire family. He will be greatly missed. I knew him as a good man who truly loved his family.
Reply
Don & Nancy Williams
July 1, 2015 at 9:23 am
Joyce and Family
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Dick always had a smile on his face when we stopped for coffee. We will miss him very much.
Reply
Jerry and Judy Shumaker
July 1, 2015 at 11:26 am
To Joyce and all of Dick’s Family. Please know that we are sending our most sincere sympathy and thoughts to all of you on the loss of Dick. He was a great guy and always seemed so easy going. We had not seen him in quite a few years but we think about him and even mention him from time to time because he wired our house for us when we had it built 45 years ago and we always appreciated that so very much. Anything electrical brings back memories of Dick. 🙂 He was just an all around good guy and had wise things to say that showed how intelligent he was. We do not know what took him from this earth, but we read where you had Hospice so he must have been sick for a while. Please know that we are so sorry for your loss and we know that you will miss him very much. May your fond memories bring you peace in the coming months and years. Take care now.
Reply
Anne Marie Bartz
July 4, 2015 at 8:51 am
So sorry to read of Dick’s passing. Many good memories of times at Big Spec Lake.
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
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How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
Share This Obituary
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