John Dee Mills, 85, passed away Sunday. Feb. 5, in Edwardsville, Kan. A man who served the people of his community in various capacities throughout his life, John was born April 1st, 1931, in Sallisaw, Okla., to Roy H. and Nancy Etta Mills.

Rather than complete his senior year at Sallisaw High School, John opted to enter the military as a Private in the United States Army. He was serving in Japan as a Military Policeman when the Korean War began, and he went to Korea to fight. His service lasted three years and he was honorably discharged at Camp Roberts, Cali., in May 1952. For his service, John earned a Purple Heart, an Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), a Korean Service Medal with 3 bronze campaign stars, a United Nations Service Medal for Korea and a Combat Infantryman Badge.

Upon his return from military service, he decided to serve the community through public education. He earned his General Education Diploma and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education from Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Okla., in July 1955. John taught in the Muncie and Gardner School Districts before moving to the Bonner Springs/Edwardsville area. While teaching at USD #204, he was asked to be an elementary school principal as he was pursuing his Master of Science at the Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia. John was awarded his Master’s degree in August 1963.

John worked for USD #204 for 32 years as an elementary school principal at Sinai Elementary School, Timmons Elementary School and Edwardsville Elementary School, and as the director for USD #204’s federal programs. Following his retirement, John continued to serve in education as the director of the Bonner Springs GED program and the director of the Migrant Education Program in Bonner Springs.

John was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a lifetime member of the National Education Association and served a term on the Edwardsville City Council.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Nancy Etta Mills, his brother, Robert Mills, his sister, Lee Anthony, and his daughter, Debra DeAnn Wagner Beaver. He is survived by his wife of nearly 46 years, Naomi Olsen Mills, his son, John Charles Mills, his two daughters, Sun Dee Mills McCauley and Kay Cee Mills, and his grandchildren: Aaron Mills, Josh Mills, John Travis (J.T.) Wagner, Ross Paver Wagner, Magnus Mills Larson, Leif Ingram Larson and Connor Hsieh.

Friends may attend a visitation and a memorial service to celebrate John’s life on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Alden-Harrington Funeral Home, 214 Oak Street, Bonner Springs, Kan. The visitation will begin at 1 p.m., and the memorial service will follow at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in John’s name may be made to the City Union Mission of Kansas City, Mo., or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.