Gail Mills

ENDEAVOR –  Gail Mills, age 56, of Endeavor passed away peacefully in her sister’s home on Sunday, May 15, 2011, after a courageous 2 ½ year battle with cancer, surrounded by her family and closest friends.   

Gail was born on August 23, 1954, in Madison, the daughter of Gene and Jonette Mills.  She worked for the Department of Natural Resources, in Madison, as a file manager for the Bureau of Watershed Management, for 33 years.  In May of 2010 she was the recipient of the Virginia Hart Award which is the most prestigious honor given to women in state government.

Gail was always thinking of others and showing them kindness.  She was quite active in her community and church through the years, including being very involved in the United Church of Christ Helping Hands Guild, serving as church council president, and organizing the church Memorial Day program.  She also served on the local library board and as secretary of her local Lions Club chapter.  Gail routinely organized the annual Harvest Dinner and consistently participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.  She had a lifelong love of animals and adopted many pets through the years in order to ensure they had a good home and were well provided for.

Gail is survived by her sisters, Carole Mills, of Endeavor, and Margo Mills, of Viroqua; three brothers, Mark Mills, of Madison, Dave (and Peri) Mills, of Portage, and Gary Mills, of Endeavor; cherished nephew and nieces, who were her pride and joy, Dan Mills, of Stevens Point, Megan Mills, of River Falls, Morgan Mills, and Katherine Mills, both of Portage; her beloved animals, Bernadette and Tobey, as well as other relatives and many friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, and has now been reunited with her beloved black lab, Jake.

The Mills family is extremely appreciative of the out-pouring of love and support from family, friends, and co-workers.  They would like to extend a special thanks to Gail’s oncologist, Dr. Stephen L. Rose, and his staff, of the UW Carbone Cancer Center, who treated her with compassion and respect, like a person, not a disease.  Gail’s family would also like to recognize all the hard work and support that Diane, Mike, Lois, Erin, Nikki and Marilyn, from Home Health United Hospice, provided to Gail and her family in her final days.  We are eternally grateful for the care they showed us!

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that any donations be made to the Trinity UCC Endeavor Church Helping Hands Guild, Home Health United Hospice in Baraboo, or the Friends of Virginia Hart organization. 

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m., on Sunday, May 22, 2011, at Trinity United Church of Christ in Endeavor, with Rev. Barbara Bolz officiating.  Inurnment will be private, and held at a later date.  Visitation will be held on Sunday from 11a.m. until 2 p.m. at Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage.