MILLS, Kenneth Lawrence

Mar 19, 2018 @ 15:12

Passed away at the Lady Dunn Health Centre on Saturday, March 17, 2018, at the age of 90 years. Loved by his wife Shirley for 56 years. Loving father of Derek (Susan), Shane “Spike” and Jacinda. Loved brother of the late Robert (Pauline), late Ralph (late Janet), Aileen (late Kenneth), late Helen (late Akira), late Ian (Berlyne), late John, Newell (Marilyn), Betty, Barbara (late Don) and Mabel (late Harold). Ken enjoyed a rapport with all six of his grandchildren, Shaun, Cass, Shaelin, Jakob, Chayse and Benji, who love to tell stories of their times spent with him.

Many nieces and nephews also have stories to tell. Ken’s father, the late Albert and his mother, the late Catherine moved the family to Michipicoten Harbour in 1932, where Albert had work with Algoma Central Railway. Ken always said growing up there at that time was good. He eventually went to work for the railway and in 1963 was the holder of a hoisting engineer’s certificate. He worked for Abitibi and Domtar forest companies as a heavy equipment operator, while living in Wawa. Ken always associated himself with “the Harbour”, a camp tucked in behind Michipicoten Lighthouse, and his love of Lake Superior. A favourite quote came from Grahame Green, ‘Wind in the Willows’, “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”

Cremation will take place at River’s Edge Cremation Centre, Sault Ste. Marie. A Celebration of his life will take place at a later date.

Memorial donations made to the Wawa Lion’s Club or Sick Children’s Hospital in Toronto would be greatly appreciated.

Arrangements entrusted to the P.M Gilmartin Funeral Home, Wawa.

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8 comments

  1. Sincere condolences to Shirley and family. Ken was such an interesting character and warm, caring individual. I have many great memories from my time spent with him at Abitibi and Domtar most often during the spring break-up when he would be assigned to help out with equipment repairs. I was enthralled listening to stories of steam-powered crane hoisting on the ACR, living and working along the Superior shores, fishing, boats, operating equipment, fixing anything and wonderfully entertaining tales of so many people whom he had worked with! If you ever see pillars of rocks piled one on top of the other along the old Abitibi haul roads, samples of things Ken did with the Drott loader waiting for trucks to come back for another load. I’m sure you enjoyed many wonderful years with him and his love for living and sharing. So very unfortunate the way things slipped away in the end, it’s been a tough road to navigate the last while, trust that he’s in a better place now.

  2. It was always a pleasure to walk past the Mills home on the corner at the top of Churchill, especially if Shirley or Ken were there with their warm greetings and friendly dogs.

    My condolences to Shirley and family.

  3. Jude and Don Charbonneau

    Condolences to all the family.

  4. Condolences to Shirley and family .

  5. Condolences to the family of a friend who shared our homeland. You will always be remembered of yes, the stories our Elders in the community share of the younger years in the harbour. We all have connections in one way or another. It has been a privilege to have known Ken. Miigwetch from my family here on the Michipicoten First Nation to yours.

  6. Ken was one of those guys who only came along once or twice in a lifetime. Hardworking, honest as the day is long, and liked by all who knew him. Favorite memories of Ken are of him always having Shanes 50cc mini bike “ready to ride” after school. Condolences to the Mills clan. RIP Ken.

  7. Daryl and Silvana Dereski

    Our most sincere condolences to Shirley and family.

  8. Uncle Ken was truly a great man!! never hesitating to come across the street and check up on the next great adventure and a genuine listener to all that took the time to stop and talk. Kens birthday celebration last summer was a hoot as only it should have been and I am truly happy to have been able to share that with him.
    So sad, so missed by all!!!
    Most sincere condolences to Shirley, Derek, Spike, Jacinda, and all the grandkids!!!!