Mills, WilliamWilliam J. Mills, 91, passed away of natural causes on Dec. 31, 2016 at St. Francis Home in Fond du Lac, WI. William ("Bill") was born on Dec. 26, 1925 in Oconto, WI, the third of four children of Ora Sophia (Pfeiffer) and Wesley Hunter Mills. Bill attended Oconto schools and graduated from Oconto High School in 1943. Following high school, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1944 and served through the end of WWII on the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV10), including battles at Okinawa, Iwo Jima, Guam, and finally the occupation of Japan and its surrender. After WWII, Bill attended the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Upon graduation in 1950, he accepted a position in Wausau with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Bill married Patsy Ruth Narlow of Birnamwood on November 28, 1950. The couple moved to Wisconsin Rapids in 1951, where they raised their five children: Blair (Barb) Mills of Fond du Lac, Darcy (late Howard) Stafford of Oxford, Curtis (Mary) Mills of Battle Creek, MI, Lisa (Ken) Moyle of Hancock, MI and Guy (late Elise) Mills of Conyers, GA. Following a 38-year career, which included supervising the construction of many bridges and untold miles of highway, Bill retired in 1988. He enjoyed maintaining a neat yard and home, as well as woodworking. He often engineered and implemented his own home improvements. Bill and Patsy were long-time members of First Congregational Church, where he was a church board member. After their children were grown, Bill and Patsy often took walks or went dancing together. A life-long Green Bay Packers fan, Bill enjoyed watching games even to the present day - particularly when the Packers won. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his brother James, his sisters Suzanne Koerner and Marilyn Corning, daughter-in-law Elise, son-in-law Howard, one grandson, Jamie Johnston, and his wife of sixty-four years, Patsy, in 2014. He is survived by five children, thirteen grandchildren, thirty great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren. VISITATION: Friday, January 13 from 10 A.M. to 11 A.M. at First Congregational Church, 311 2nd St South. Wisconsin Rapids. SERVICE: 11 A.M. at the church, with Reverend Missy Holdorf officiating. Entombment will follow at Garden of Memories Mausoleum at Forest Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to . John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting family at this time. On line condolences can be made at www.HonorOne.com