Gary L. Mills' Obituary
Forsyth – Gary Lee Mills, 72, of Forsyth, died October 17, 2009 after a courageous 7 year battle with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow.
Gary’s funeral service will be at 11:00 am Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at Pilgrim Lutheran Church with Pastor Bill Abbott and Pastor Brock Abbott officiating. The visitation will be from 5-7 pm Monday, October 19, 2009 at Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home. Interment will be at Graceland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made either to the Cancer Care Specialist Charitable Fund c/o Dr. Benjamin Esparaz, 2800 N Monroe, Decatur, Illinois 62526 or Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 2155 N Oakland Avenue, Decatur, Illinois 62526. Online condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
Gary grew up on a Dairy Farm in Neillsville, Wisconsin, the oldest of four children born to Lee and Henrietta Mills.
Gary accepted an unexpected, last minute opportunity to attend college and after four years at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, graduated with a degree in Agricultural Economics. That experience completely changed the direction of Gary’s life.
Gary completed the ROTC Program at the University of Wisconsin and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army upon his graduation. He married Kaye Stanzel of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on June 27, 1959, and they were stationed in Wildflecken, Germany for four years. During that tour their two children were born. After serving his country, Gary joined Cargill, Inc in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During his working career Gary held numerous management positions in Cargill, Inc. and with several National Grain Trade Associations. Gary retired from Cargill, Inc. as an Assistant Vice President after 32 years. Gary finished his working years as a Vice President with Bartlett Grain in Kansas City, Missouri.
Gary enjoyed golf and cards, especially bridge. While living in Forsyth, he and Kaye joined the Commodore Duplicate Bridge Group in Decatur. After years spent moving for various work assignments, Gary was happy to settle down close to his son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren. Gary and Kaye attended numerous Maroa/Forsyth Trojan sporting events and school musical productions.
Two of the great joys Gary had in the past five years were attending Princeton Football games to watch his oldest grandson play and taking his second grandson to Canada on remote fly-in fishing trips. For the past 12 years Gary and Kaye have spent two weeks each summer on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and this summer he and Kaye took the whole family on a cruise to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary.
Gary lived a life of service to others. He served as President of several Lutheran Congregations around the country and held other volunteer positions in the Lutheran Church. Since moving to Forsyth, he has delivered Meals on Wheels and served as an usher at Pilgrim Lutheran Church.
Gary was committed to battling Multiple Myeloma both personally and on behalf of others. Gary was an active member of the Tucson, Arizona, Multiple Myeloma Support Group and generously supported the International Myeloma Foundation. Gary and Kaye learned more about the disease by attending informational and educational seminars in San Diego, Los Angeles and Phoenix.
He will be sadly missed by his wife: Kaye, one son: Greg (Lesa) Mills of Forsyth, one daughter: Sarah (Martin) McEvoy of Newmarket, NH, one brother: Allen (Helen) Mills of Fitchburg, WI, two sisters: LaVonne (Merlin) Gerber of Madison, WI, Sally (Richard) Miller of Verona, WI, three grandchildren: Andrew Thomas Mills, Zachary David Mills and Hannah Elizabeth Mills.
He was preceded in death by his parents Lee and Henrietta Mills.
The Mills family is grateful to Dr. Benjamin Esparaz for his compassionate care and concern during Gary’s battle with Multiple Myeloma. They also wish to thank the nurses and staff at Decatur Memorial Hospital, 5100 Unit, for their patience, compassion and kindness.
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