Millie Gillen

She was born in Litchfield on June 7, 1936, the daughter of Edward and Mamie (Jones) Adams. She first resided in the Farmersville-Waggoner area, regularly riding her bicycle within yards of the historic Route 66 roadway. She attended a small, one-room schoolhouse in Farmersville until fourth grade where she met her first and one of her longest friends, Linda Steward Bracco. One of her earliest memories is hearing the church bells ring throughout Montgomery and Sangamon County when V-E Day occurred in 1945. She and her family moved to Springfield when she entered the fifth grade. She attended McClernand Grade School with the happy surprise during her first homeroom attendance roll call that Linda had moved to Springfield as well. Millie and Linda made friends with Delores Metzger Rogers and the girls developed a friendship that lasted their entire lives. Walking to Ridgley School for home economics as their last class of the day was one of their warmest memories.

Millie lived with her parents, brother, and maiden aunt, and one of the first things they did to survive was take in boarders, as there was a shortage of housing after World War II. They also bought a restaurant, Tony and Jenny’s (next door to Speigel/Baker’s Grocer on the 700 block of East Enos) and everyone pitched in, with Millie waiting tables during her lunch hour from school.

She attended and graduated from Lanphier High School. Her days were filled with classwork, playing saxophone in the school bands, working various jobs after school, and socializing at the Sugar Bowl, Icy Root Beer, and running to Buckhart Tavern for a quick burger and beer for lunch on a school day. She met Jack Gillen at Walgreens at Fifth and Monroe through Linda’s boyfriend, Frank Bracco, who worked with him at the local north end railyard. She graduated from Lanphier in 1954, attended Brown’s Business College, and married Jack on January 29, 1955.

Millie had a wonderful and fulfilling life with Jack, through his careers at the IDOT Division of Waterways, local and Illinois State narcotics law enforcement, a year of law school, and as a chiropractor. She herself worked at Illinois National Insurance, Illinois Secretary of State/Superintendent of Education assisting the overseeing of school bus safety and regulation, and in the coding department of St. John’s Hospital. In Taylorville, she opened Millies Children’s Wear Store, and later managed Virden Department Store, the children’s department of Famous-Barr, and worked in Famous-Barr’s bridal registry, fine jewelry, furniture, new employee training, and administrative offices and vault, before retiring in 1998.

She is survived by her children, Michelle Gillen, Kathy (Jim) Hillestad, Stacy (Scott) Mundstock, and John Gillen; grandchildren, Ryan (Lanie) Hillestad, Cole Hillestad, Sam (Drew) Perks, John (Lynnea Perks), and Aleia Gillen; and great-grandchild, Harlow Hillestad. Millie will be dearly missed by those she touched.

Private services will be held.

The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home- Springfield, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield.

Cremation was provided by Butler Cremation Tribute Services.

Please visit www.butlerspringfield.com to offer your condolences.