Bill Mills

William "Bill" Mills of Vienna IL passed away at his home Sunday December 3rd 2023 with his loving wife by his side. Bill was born April 4th 1957 in Billings, Montana to Lowell William and Hazel Ellen (Honey) Mills. Bill proudly served his country in the United States Navy from 1975 -1977 as a Petty Officer 3rd class. He worked as a farm hand and welder for many years before beginning a career in the medical field. Bill began as an ambulance driver at Johnson County Ambulance Service and worked his way up to Paramedic while attending nursing school. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1994 from Shawnee Community College. He worked in several positions as an RN settling at Choate Mental Health where he was, as friends recall him, a stellar representation of the Choate nursing staff and Illinois Nurses Association. He served as the shop steward for AFSCME Council # 31 working tirelessly during contract negotiations and retired after 15 years of service in 2017. Bill had many accomplishments in his life but was he was most proud of being a husband, father and grandfather. He was of the Christian faith. He was an avid reader and gardener, loved spending his days doing wood working projects, tending to his yard and cooking. He enjoyed hunting and was always up for a discussion on politics, American history or one of his many favorite authors. After several proposals, he was finally united in marriage to Hannah (Rentfro) Mills on December 30th 2004. They shared a total of 26 years and she survives. Bill greatly loved his children Renee (Bill) Grimes of West Frankfort IL, Felicia (Chad) Maze of Washington DC, Elaina (Kyle) Scerena of Herrin IL, and Yuri (Khristen) Rentfro of Metropolis IL. The title he loved most was PawPaw Bill. He was blessed with 9 grandchildren. Kristi and Tristen Brown, Andrew, Rachelle and Brantley Grimes, Stella Scerena, Alexis, Natalya and Kylo Rentfro as well as 2 great grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren as well as 3 nieces he loved dearly, and many friends he considered family. He was preceded in death by his beloved mother and father, brothers John Woods and Harold Woods, sister and partner in crime Cathy (Mills) Averitt, brother-in-law Thomas Averitt, sister-in-law Carolyn (Woods) Bates and his father-in-law & mother in law Robert and Elaine Rentfro who he greatly admired. A celebration of Bill's life will be held Saturday afternoon, January 27, 2024, at 3 PM at the Vienna Diner, 511 East Vine Street, Vienna, IL. The family invites all relatives and friends to gather, share stories and memories, as well as enjoy a time of fellowship. Memorials may be made to the Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois, 10400 Terminal Drive, Suite 200, Marion, Illinois 62959.

Bill Mills

April 4, 1957 - December 3, 2023