Mildred "Millie" Coker

05/01/1945 - 24/12/2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Millie. She passed away on Christmas Eve surrounded by loved ones as she left for her heavenly home. She will be dearly missed by her husband of over 55 wonderful years, Jack. Millie was a devoted mother to her children Tammy Jakob (Brian), Don Coker (Jo-Lynn), Leanne Coker and Angie McCann (Dan); grandmother to grandchildren Jamie-Lynn (Steven), Erich (Zoe), Kaitlyn, Addison, Elliott and great-grandchildren Teigan and Michael. She also leaves behind her brother Roy Shields (Colleen), her sister Donna Harms (Ron), her brother Lyle Shields (Laura), her sister-in-law Linda Houlden (Murray), several stepsiblings and numerous nieces and nephews.

Millie valued many friends, in particular her best friend Marg Friesen. She was always there for Millie when she needed a hug and Marg has become a dear friend to so much of our family. Millie was a woman whose heart knew no bounds in its capacity to love and care for others. Her actions, always guided by love, transformed the lives of those she touched.

Millie is predeceased by her parents Alexander and Lorraine Shields, as well as her stepmother Thelma Shields and in-laws William and Marjory Coker.

Millie was born in Gimli, Manitoba to Alex and Lorraine Shields on January 5th, 1945 while her father was serving in the Air Force. She grew up in Purves and other small towns in southern Manitoba with her siblings and a large extended family. She had fond memories of the Shields’ Christmas gatherings with her extended family at her grandparent's farm in Somerset, Manitoba.

On New Years Eve 1969, Millie met Jack; the love of her life. They were married five and a half short months later and moved to Cochrane, Ontario to start their life as a family. Five years later, they moved to Kenora and started construction on the house that would become their home for over 50 years. Although Millie was a city-girl, she adapted to country life for the love of her family. When her kids were young, she was very involved and volunteered in the kids' schools, within the scouting movement, and was a big part of the Kenora Agricultural Society. For more than 25 years, Millie worked at H&R Block while raising her kids and grandkids plus building friendships through her work. She later retired to spend more time with the people she loved. Millie’s family was her pride, her joy, and the very essence of her being. She leaves behind a legacy of love that will continue to flourish in our hearts, a testament to the profound impact she had on our lives.

Millie had a strong faith in Jesus. She loved her church family and was often heard bragging about her pastors at Lakeside Baptist Church and how much she loved their latest sermons. Nothing displayed this faith more than the way she overcame her crippling fear of water to be baptized in Rabbit Lake in the summer of 2024.

Some of Millie’s favourite things revolved around spending time with her family. Whether it was playing board/card games, baking, pontoon boat rides, making jams, going to church, gardening, or looking after grandkids, it put the biggest smile on her face. At her happiest, she was helping people. If someone didn’t have a place to spend the holidays, she welcomed them with open arms. The more people in the house, the better. She also loved Christmas, Elvis Presley, fish frys, and gift giving. She was an avid sports fan and a proud supporter of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. She played and watched curling from a young age and cheered for the Winnipeg Jets every game they played.

A celebration of life will be held at Lakeside Baptist Church on her 81st birthday, January 5th, 2026 at 11:00am. Any donations you wish to make can be made to The Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation, St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, or a charity of your choice in honour of our mom.

Our family would like to say a huge thank you to the staff at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital and especially Dr. Dooley for their incredible care provided for our family.

A heartfelt thank you to her church family at Lakeside Baptist who provided never-ending support and love through all of the good and bad times.

We love you a bushel and a peck. ♥️