John Joseph Mills

SUN PRAIRIE / PORTAGE – John Joseph Mills (Big John, J.J. General Mills), age 84, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Thursday October 10, 2024, at Talamore Memory Care, in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, after spending the prior day surrounded by family. 

John was born to Joseph “Felix” and Ethel (Hazen) Mills on August 7, 1940, in Prairie du Chien, WI and was raised on the family farm in rural Portage, attending primary school in a one room Schoolhouse, graduating from Portage High School in 1958.

Upon completion of High School he joined the US Army, having served in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Returning to the states, he resided in Illinois where he started his career as a telephone lineman at Illinois Bell (later working for Wisconsin Bell, retiring from Lucent Technologies). This is where he would meet the love of his life, Mary Jean Ramp, who was working as a switchboard operator. John and Mary would marry June 4, 1966, in La Grange Park, IL starting a family, and eventually moving back to Portage where they raised their 3 children, and where John would remain in the original house he and Mary built up until July of 2023, when his health suddenly and rapidly starting to decline, forcing the sale of his home and a move into assisted living. Up until that time, John was passionate about cars. He was meticulous about every vehicle he owned, which varied over the years, from motorcycles, to snowmobiles, ski boats, and his cherished GTA Trans Am. But he always wanted a Corvette, and after Mary passed away in 2011, he decided to purchase, not one, but eventually 2 Corvettes (the first a 2003 50th Anniversary Edition and then a spanking new Stingray) in which he proceeded to fill most of his free time attending car shows and quickly gathering an astonishing and impressive collection of trophies in which he proudly put on display in his home. John had always been a hard worker, and he had a tool for everything. Whatever he owned, you knew it was meticulously cared for. His lawn and landscaping were always immaculate, almost to a fault, as he’d  spend hours perfecting every last inch. He loved his fish tank and his Koi that he kept in the fabulous pond he built in the backyard with the help of his brother Jim. Throughout the years he enjoyed time spent with his buddies from bowling league to the Portage Boat Club, attending the annual Pancake Breakfast without fail every year, and the Winnebago Ridge Runner Snowmobile Club, going on trips to the UP and Canada, and later meeting up periodically for breakfast or coffee. John loved listening to music, especially the old country and rock n roll classics, spending countless hours putting together several mix CD's. He loved his Martini's (always kept a big jar of olives or 2 on hand) and all Wisconsin sports teams, but most of all John cherished time with his family and always made sure they were well provided for. He was always there to support his children's sports teams, coaching, be there for the school play, band concerts, and being on bowling league together, where he would bowl a 300! Boating and water skiing on Swan Lake and road trips to Door County, Florida and Missouri. And over the past several years without fail, made sure to keep track of and send out cards to all the kids, grandkids and even the daughters and sons-in-law for their birthdays and you always knew what would be inside...the annual check!

John was a very particular, no nonsense, straight to the point, tell it like it is kind of guy. He wasn't afraid to give his opinion, even if it may at times be unwarranted. But he had a sharp wit and deadpan sense of humor, even up to the very end, complaining about how bad the soup was that we were trying to get him to eat. But he sure did love his sweets and always had room for dessert!

John will be missed and is survived by his daughter, Katherine (Shane) Terry, of Rockford, IL; son, David (Jennifer) Mills, of Deforest, WI, and son, Daniel (Heather) Mills, of Deforest, WI; brother, Jim (Terry) Mills, of New Lisbon, WI; grandchildren, Ashlynne, Delaynie, Connor, Brayden, Madilyn, and Sam; special cousin, Pam (Armand) Framarin; as well as numerous extended family members and friends. John is preceded in death by his parents, Felix and Ethel; wife, Mary; mother and father-in-law, Helen and Arthur Ramp; and, brother-in-law, Jim Ramp.

A special thank you to John's neighbors for keeping an eye on him when his health started to decline. Also, to the Talamore staff, for the kind care John received over this past year.

Memorials services will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at the Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, Wisconsin. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., at the funeral home. Inurnment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, monetary gifts can be made in John’s Memory to:

Winnebago Ridge Runners
c/o Steve Pate
N6838 Boyd Dr,
Pardeeville, WI 53954