OBITUARY
James Lee Mills
March 14, 1947 – January 13, 2021
James L. Mills, age 73, of Lansing, with his loving family by his side, went to be with the Lord on January 13, 2021. Born March 14, 1947, in Lansing, MI to the late Audrey William Mills and Margaret V. Moore. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Joanne Mills, Carol Chiesa, and brother Robert Mills. Jim was the beloved husband of Cheryl (Lovewell) Mills for 50+ years, devoted father to his daughters Michelle Crist (Brad) and Nicole Mills, and cherished grandfather (Pepa) to William and Sydney Crist, and Brandon, Chase, and Dylan Boling. Jim is survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Jim, first and foremost, loved his family, grandchildren, his Malteses (aka Tooty Mills!) and the infinite number of friendships that surrounded him throughout his life. Jim was known for one of his favorite sayings, “Keep the Faith.” He was a fun-loving guy who had a love for hunting, fishing, and traveling-anything that put him in the Great Outdoors! Jim served in the United States Army 1968-70. He was employed by Gilmore’s Refrigeration and then started his own successful company of over 40+ years, Mills Refrigeration Inc., also well known as “Get your Chills from Mills.” Anyone that knew Jim knows he was a man of honesty and integrity and was very humbled to have the success he was blessed with. That success started with him getting up each and every morning with his famous saying, “It’s a Beautiful Day!” Jim was a warm, kind, caring, humorist son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law, neighbor, and friend who will truly be missed by all. Visitation will be held Monday, January 18, 2021 from 2-4 & 6-8 pm at Tiffany Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at St. Gerard Catholic Church, Lansing. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Lansing. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Gerard Catholic Church or the American Lung Association in Jim’s honor.
PALLBEARERS
- Brad Crist
- Joe Clevenger
- Roger Fudge
- Ron Karr
- Tim Karr
- Bob Shinn
DONATIONS
- St. Gerard Catholic Church
- American Lung Association
Services
-
Visitation
Monday, January 18, 2021
-
Mass of Christian Burial
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
-
Committal Service
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Memories
James Lee Mills
have a memory or condolence to add?
ADD A MEMORYlaura shaver
January 19, 2021
Cheryl, we were so sorry to hear about Jim, it was just last February we saw you at the Sparrow building. Jim was just four days older than I. Our very sincere sympathy to you and all your family.
Laurie and Hap Shaver
Anne Ganakas
January 18, 2021
Jim Mills is an icon in our community not only thru his business of servicing restaurants for many years in their time of need to get thru a day but for all the community events he sponsored and people he cared for without ever looking for anything in return.
The Arby's community and every other restaurant that used Jim and his staff to get back in operation will all be forever grateful for his deep understanding of KINDNESS!
To his beloved family that we were all grateful to hear about all of your activities, I thank you for sharing this gem of a person!
Anne Ganakas
Steven Stornant
January 17, 2021
Sorry to here that Jim has passed...what a great guy...he will be missed
Jane Doty
January 17, 2021
Jim was our long time service man for our Burger King restaurants, H&H Restaurants. When I opened Henry's on the Square in downtown Lansing, he was our go to guy. We even had his helper work on our ice machine at our lake. The last time I saw him, he said, if you are not being taken care of, I want to know about it. He was that kind of guy. RIP Jim. Jane Henry Doty
Christopher Costigan
January 16, 2021
James was a wonderful person, always smiling & friendly to friends and also to his customers. I've known Jim for several decades while he attended service needs both at Lansing Catholic & at East Lansing Public Schools....he will be greatly missed in the refrigeration field and as friend that I enjoyed talking with....Much to young in passing. I send my sympathy to his family and please remember Jim for his great smile and the good times you all shared with him.
Dick Hoisington
January 16, 2021
Will always remember our fun memories in the old Auburn neighborhood. Jimmy was always happy, funny and a great friend to be around. The first time I ever saw Jimmy in 1951, Jimmy was about 4 yrs old, he was peeing in the window well of his house. Carefree and happy go lucky. Rest in peace Jimmy, you will be missed!
Dave & Rose Vallin
January 16, 2021
Cheryl and family we are so sorry to hear the passing of Jim. We will always remember him with a smile and honking his horn when he passed our house and yelling “a beautiful day”. He will truly be missed In our neighborhood. Rest In Peace .
Dave & Rose Vallin
Norm Spalding
January 16, 2021
I met Jimmy during his first week of being in business on a service call at one of our Burger King restaurants. I believe this was 1980. After shaking his hand I thought boy he’s funny, very friendly, and a hard working guy. We instantly became great friends. We actually went trout fishing a couple of weeks later. We enjoyed many great times hunting and fishing together. Boy, the world lost one of best friends anyone could ever hope to meet. I miss him greatly already! As he said so often...keep the faith no, spread the faith.
Love you Milly.
Norm and Julie Spalding
Paul Gilmore
January 16, 2021
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the Mills family. Jim was a great man and a wonderful long time friend. I will cherish when he visited me a short time ago and we were able to chat about old times. I will always remember his smile and his infectious sense of humor. Rest In Peace dear friend . Love Paulie and family
Howard Clevenger
January 16, 2021
We are so sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. He was a friend and one heck of a nice man. We are sorry we can’t be there for the service as we are in Florida but our thoughts and prayers are with Jim and his family. RIP my friend.
Howard and Angie Clevenger
Eileen Clabuesch
January 16, 2021
So sorry to hear this. Jim and family were so good to my Aunt Ella. Peace and prayers to all family.
Ronald Karr
January 15, 2021
We moved to Holt when I was in the 6th grade, and Jimmy was the first kid in the neighborhood to introduce himself and invite me to play football. We were fast friends and he always made me laugh! I loved him like a brother.
Rest in peace, dear friend. Heaven is a brighter place now that you are there!
Love to Cheryl and the girls and the grandkids -
Ron (& Candy)
Edmond Chammas
January 14, 2021
Very sorry to hear about the passing of Jim. Jim has has been servicing our business for the past 32 years. I will miss you Jim and I will always remember the quote that you used (keep the faith).
Rest in peace!
May the family find comfort and peace during this difficult time.
Edmond
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Biography
James L. Mills, age 73, of Lansing, with his loving family by his side, went to be with the Lord on January 13, 2021. Born March 14, 1947, in Lansing, MI to the late Audrey William Mills and Margaret V. Moore. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Joanne Mills, Carol Chiesa, and brother Robert Mills.
Jim was the beloved husband of Cheryl (Lovewell) Mills for 50+ years, devoted father to his daughters Michelle Crist (Brad) and Nicole Mills, and cherished grandfather (Pepa) to William and Sydney Crist, and Brandon, Chase, and Dylan Boling. Jim is survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Jim, first and foremost, loved his family, grandchildren, his Malteses (aka Tooty Mills!) and the infinite number of friendships that surrounded him throughout his life. Jim was known for one of his favorite sayings, “Keep the Faith.” He was a fun-loving guy who had a love for hunting, fishing, and traveling-anything that put him in the Great Outdoors!
Jim served in the United States Army 1968-70. He was employed by Gilmore’s Refrigeration and then started his own successful company of over 40+ years, Mills Refrigeration Inc., also well known as “Get your Chills from Mills.” Anyone that knew Jim knows he was a man of honesty and integrity and was very humbled to have the success he was blessed with. That success started with him getting up each and every morning with his famous saying, “It’s a Beautiful Day!”
Jim was a warm, kind, caring, humorist son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law, neighbor, and friend who will truly be missed by all.