Wilma "Willi" J. Mills

Wilma “Willi” Jean Mills, age 80 of Vicksburg, died on October 18, 2024. She was born on June 8, 1944, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the daughter of Wilmont and Donna (DeBack) Millem. Willi was a 1962 graduate of Loy Norrix High School and attended Ferris State University to receive her associate’s degree in cosmetology. After several years as a cosmetologist, Willi joined the Upjohn team. She retired after 31.5 years from the Package Engineering Department. On April 23, 1971, she married Max Mills, who preceded her in death in 2005. Willi was a member of the former Stockbridge United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the Asbury’s church group. She had also attended the Pentwater family camp for over 30 years.

Willi had a gift for handicrafts including painting, knitting, embroidery, sewing, and basket weaving. Long after her cosmetology career ended, she was still giving haircuts to extended family, providing a regular opportunity to gather and enjoy each other’s company. Perhaps her best gift was her one-of-a-kind laugh. Anyone lucky enough to hear it couldn’t help but join in. 

At Pentwater family camp, Willi’s tent was always the gathering place for hungry campers. She was the queen of elephant ears. 

Genealogy interested Willi. She became the keeper of family history with an impressive capacity for remembering family lore. Her Indian Lake home was the gathering place for Fourth of July celebrations that included boat parades and her famous blueberry bread and cherry cheesecake.

Willi had a funny (and often PG-rated) saying for nearly every situation. Ask one of her grandchildren or nieces, and they’ll smile and tell you their favorite. Her sense of humor will live on in them.

Her family includes her children: Victoria “Tori” (Dale) Wentela, Dan (Dawn) Rolfe, Matt (Joy) Mills, and chosen daughter Cathy (Rich) Campbell; her grandchildren: Allyson Wentela, Cassandra (Christian Mendez) Wentela, Gabe Mills, Maggie Mills, Courtney Rolfe; her sister Melanie Perry; and her nieces Donna (Rob) Keller and Karen (Ed) Dzialowski. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Max Mills, stepmother Madeline Millem, her step-brother Vern VerHage, and her brother-in-law Phil Perry. 

A memorial gathering to greet her family will be held on Friday, November 8th from 4:00-7:00 PM, at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Location, 622 S. Burdick Street, Kalamazoo. A private burial will be held at Riverside Cemetery, Kalamazoo. Donations in memory of Willi may be made to the American Red Cross, St. Jude’s Children's Hospital, or The Kalamazoo Gospel Mission.

Please share memories of Willi with her family at www.langelands.com