Stephanie Jo Mills Obituary
A service in witness to Stephanie's life and faith will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Centre Avenue Church of God, 1917 E. Centre Ave, Portage, with Pastor Andrew Lyle and Meredith Story, officiating. Friends may call on the family for one half hour prior to the service starting at 10:30 a.m. and at a luncheon following the service. To honor Stephanie, please wear the color purple. Stephanie will be laid to rest at South Portage Cemetery. Memorial contributions in her honor may be made to Paws With a Cause of Wayland, in c/o the funeral home.
Age 66, passed away Wednesday afternoon, April 17, 2024. Stephanie was born in Kalamazoo, on September 4, 1957, the daughter of William O. and Patricia Ann (Keene) Mills Jr. Stephanie worked for many years in medical records at Bronson Methodist Hospital, HelpNet and the Assistance Center. In the 90's she received the Star Award for her volunteer work with Borgess Run for the Health of It, Corporate Olympics, Gilmore Keyboard Festival, Kalamazoo New Years Eve Festival, and Empathy Open Golf. She was a 1975 graduate of Portage Central High School where she played in the Marching Band and Liberty Bells Drum and Bugle Corps. She had also been active in facilitating class reunions. Stephanie was a musician and had been featured as Best in the State clarinet soloist. In her teen years she attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. She had been a caregiver to her own parents and grandmother in their final years. Most importantly she was a mentor, confidant and surrogate parent for her nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Stephanie is survived by her siblings, Deborah (Kenneth) Glerum, Suzanne (Richard Storteboom) Mills, Michael (MaryAnn) Mills, and Paula (James) Wheaton; nieces and nephews, Dan (Kristen) Glerum, Chad (Tanya) Glerum, William Parker, Leslie (Anthony) Kirksey, Shane (Laura) Richardson, Gary (Jonelle) Richardson, Joey (Elizabeth Jones) Richardson, Ashley Mills and Sarah (Calvin) Strombeck; several great-nieces and nephews; aunts, Karen Keene, Tracee Keene, Missy Mills; uncles, David Keene and David Richmond; and many friends, including her faithful service dog, Joy. Stephanie was preceded in death by her parents; a grandniece, Lauren Elizabeth Glerum.
