Ethel Mills passed away peacefully at home the evening of January 23, 2019. Ethel was born October 8, 1923 to Arthur and Grace (Cooper) Oligny in the town of Garden Valley, Jackson County Wisconsin. She graduated from Alma Center High School in 1942. She married Omer “Curt” Mills on October 13, 1945. Ethel worked as a bookkeeper in the Ben Franklin Store in Black River Falls. Later, she worked in the finance office at Camp McCoy during World War II and the Korean War. She also worked in a production office at Beloit Corporation, in Beloit, Wisconsin.

Ethel lived in Alabama from 1968 to 1992, and Black River Falls from 1992 to 2003. Ethel and Curt moved to Eau Claire in July 2003. Ethel enjoyed sewing, reading, playing cards, and traveling.

Ethel is survived by one of her two daughters, Sheila Mills of Altoona Wisconsin, and one of her three brothers, Larry Peterson and his wife Bernadean Peterson of Estero, Florida. She is survived by four grandchildren: Dena Poppe of Rancho Viejo Texas; Kelly Poppe-Gale of Wausau, Wisconsin; Jacob Jurmain of Burlington, Vermont; and Ariel Jurmain of Boston Massachusetts. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren: Hillary Spaeth of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin; Tyson Spaeth of Ottumwa, Iowa; Makenzi Gale of Wausau, Wisconsin; and Garison Gale of Wausau, Wisconsin. Ethel is survived by one great-great-grandson, Porter Hakes of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and one great-great-granddaughter, Presleigh Spaeth of Ottumwa, Iowa.

Ethel was preceded in death by: her husband Omer “Curt” Mills, her parents Grace Peterson and Arthur Oligny, her stepfather Arthur Peterson, her brothers Maynard Oligney and Arthur Oligny, her sisters Edna Fisher and Opal Olson, and her daughter Mary Mills Jurmain.

At the time of her death, she and her daughter Sheila resided in Altoona, WI.

Ethel requested for no funeral services to be conducted. In lieu of flowers, Ethel’s family suggests donations to the Eau Claire Humane Association, 3900 Old Town Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701.

To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Ethel June Mills, please visit our Tribute Store.