Emma W. (Veen) Mills (1928-2013)

VEEN, RENSINK, MILLS, BRITTON, NELSON

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 9/6/2016 at 01:09:35

Emma W. (Veen) Mills, the daughter of Cornelius and Johanna (Rensink) Veen was born on Feb. 11, 1928, in Sheldon, IA. She was baptized and made confession of her faith in the Boyden Reformed Church. She attended the Bell School near her childhood home between Boyden and Sheldon.

On Oct. 12, 1949, Emma was united in marriage to George Mills in the First Reformed Church in Boyden. Following their marriage they made their home in Sheldon the first two years, and then later moving to farms near Sheldon and Sanborn. They moved to their farm near Hartley in 1964. She worked at home assisting with farm work and household duties and taught piano lessons. The couple were blessed with three children: Mary, Greg and Brian. They stayed on the farm until moving to Hartley in 1991. In 2012, they moved to the Community Memorial Assisted Living in Hartley.

Emma was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ of Hartley, as well as the Dorcas Society, American Legion Auxiliary and the Hartley Hospital Auxiliary, where she served in the capacity of president of all of these organizations at one time. She enjoyed teaching Sunday School, music, quilting, playing cards and for sixty years, served as a church organist. She also was a choir member in the churches she attended.

She enjoyed cooking, bowling, golfing, and going to Arizona and Texas in the winter months. Most of all she loved spending time with her grandchildren and the family times she had with her children and husband.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 63 years, George; three children: Mary, and her husband, Rick Britton of Peterson, two sons: Greg, and his wife, Kristy Mills of Hartley and Brian Mills of West Des Moines. Also five grandchildren: Rachel Nelson, Justin Britton, Matthew Mills and his fiancée, Kelly Noonan, Kelsie Mills, and her special friend, Wes Boyer, Katelyn Mills, and one great-grandchild: Emmalee Mikal.

Emma was preceded in death by her parents; a stillborn daughter; grandson: Michael Britton, four brothers: Dick, John, Cornelius, and Herbert; five sisters: Albertha, Janetta, Cathrine, Kathrine and Cornelia.

Northwest Iowa Review, Jan 10, 2013