Janet “Jan” M. Mills

Janet "Jan" M. Mills, age 80, a resident of Round Lake Beach, IL, passed away at Wealshire Assisted Living in Lincolnshire on January 9, 2024 after a long illness.  She was born in Melrose Park, IL to Will and Jerry (nee Spiller) Lechelt on March 3, 1942, twelve minutes ahead of her twin sister.  She graduated from Round Lake High School, Northern Illinois University with her Bachelor's Degree and Concordia University with her Master's Degree.  She taught at Ellis School and mainly at Murphy Grade School, loving her students and colleagues.  She also loved the UNO parties, luncheons with her friends, cruising, and road trips with her fur babies. Elvis was her big crush, lasting her entire adulthood.  She married Robert Mills "Red" in 1965.

She is survived by her son, Rob (Holly) Mills; her grandson, RT Mills; her sister, Judy Lechelt; her uncle, Ed Lechelt; and many loving cousins and friends.  She was preceded in death by her son, Bill; her sisters, Rita Jean Verge, and Nancy (Bob) Mims, her nephew, Zak (Jeannette) Verge; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Her husband, also, preceded her in 1972 after a gun mount explosion on the USS Benjamin Stoddert, off the coast of Quang Tri Province, Vietnam.

A celebration of Jan's life will be held at a later date.  She will be placed in her husband's grave, next to her son, Bill at Avon Centre Cemetery.  Donations to Sav-A-Pet, Alzheimer's Disease, or the charity of your choice would be appreciated. Thanks to the staff at Wealshire for taking such good care of her.  Her life was filled with laughter, love, tears, and joy.  She will be missed forever.  All arrangements were entrusted to Strang Funeral Chapel, 410 E Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL 60030.  For more information, please call (847) 223-8122 or visit www.StrangFuneral.org.