Joan M. Mills of Abilene, age 94 years, passed away on September 21, 2025, at The Good Shepherd Hospice House, Manhattan, KS.
She was born to Carl and Josephine (Erichsen) Schweitzer on September 14, 1931, at the Geary County Hospital in Junction City. She grew up on the family farm near Alida with her 2 sisters and 1 brother. Joan graduated from the Milford High School with the class of 1950.
On July 30, 1950, she married Lee Mills of Chapman at her parent’s home in Alida. They farmed outside of Chapman and raised cattle, hogs, chickens. And raised grain crops. Joan spent a lot of time raising the 6 children. They retired from the farm in 1990 and moved to Abilene.
Joan served on the Scherer Memorial Lutheran Church Counsel and was very active in the church. She also bowled on a Tuesday afternoon league in Abilene for many years.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband, sisters, Bonnie Freeman, Joyce Welshans and their spouses Herman and William, brother, Jay Schweitzer, Daughter-in-law, Deb Mills and son-in-law, Wayne McZegle.
She is survived by her six children - daughters, Susan McZegle, Enid, OK, Leanne Mills and significant other, Geoffrey Houser, Junction City; sons, Melvin, Talmage; Randy, Assaria, Larry (Kathy), Kent (Sarah) Mills of Chapman. Ten grandsons, Bill, Travis (Kristen), Andrew (Heather), Mitchem, Ryan, Jared (Bobbi), Nicholas, Kevin, Kyle Mills and Dustin Westover. Six great-grandchildren – Colby, Carly, Chloe, Ellery, Sully and Amelia. And a sister-in-law, Wava Schweitzer.
Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 26, at Londeen-Overlease Funeral Chapel, Chapman. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., following the visitation. Burial will be at the Indian Hill Cemetery, Chapman.
Memorials may be given to Dickinson County Home Health & Hospice or The Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan. Memorials may be left at the funeral home or sent in care of Londeen-Overlease Funeral Chapel PO Box 411 Chapman, KS 67431.