Marion Kahn Mills

Marion Kahn Mills died on the evening of January 21st at Lincoln Haven Nursing Home, where she had been a resident for the past three years. Born on 12/13/14 in Mikado, Michigan, Marion was the youngest of ten children born to Joseph and Hannah (Lowenberg) Kahn. Marion graduated from Oscoda High School in 1933. She worked in a variety of jobs including Essex Wire in Highland Park and selling war bonds on the radio. In the early 40’s, the skinny son of “Charlie the Butcher” of Lincoln asked Marion for a date on the back of a piece of butcher paper. She accepted and Ralph and Marion were married a year later on March 29, 1945 in Baltimore, Maryland before Ralph shipped off to Germany and World II. When Ralph returned from the war he converted his father’s grocery store into Mills 5 to $1.00. Together they successfully ran the store in downtown Lincoln until its sale in 1979. Marion was a hard worker. After working eight hours waiting on customers, she would go upstairs to feed her family and do all the necessary chores of being a housewife. Marion often had to “hold down the fort” while Ralph was involved in a myriad of community projects including being one of the founding fathers of opening the Alcona Health Center in Lincoln. Marion and Ralph had a wonderful marriage and celebrated their 50th anniversary before Ralph passed away in 1998. Marion was always thoughtful and so very generous. She should have owned stock in Hallmark cards as she always remembered all of her relatives and friend’s birthdays and anniversaries. Within the family, everyone could look forward to a humorous and insightful poem in their birthday card. Her heart was as big as she was. Anyone could expect a baked ham after a family member’s death. Marion was kindhearted and never had anything negative to say about anyone with one exception. For some reason, she had a strong dislike for conservative columnist George Will. Marion could sing like a bird and cook like Julia Child. She never used a recipe but her standing rib roast, leg of lamb, liver pate and apple pie were to die for. She had her “15 minutes of fame” when Life magazine came to rural Mikado in 1938 to cover the comedy “Aaron Slick from Punkin’ Crick.” Marion was the lead actress. Marion loved watching Detroit Tiger and Detroit Piston games and love going to Old Briggs Stadium. Marion is survived by her son Richard Mills (Mary Ellen), daughter Janice Heyd and her other daughter Vanessa Flewelling Mills. She also leaves behind grandson Jeffrey Heyd (Katie), granddaughter Lauren Deal (Chris), great granddaughter Ciara Cumbie and sister-in-law Ruth Kahn Mills, as well as best friends Alexina Jack and Esther Budreau. Marion was preceded in death by brothers Sydney, Allen, Iver, Abraham, Gerson and Wellington (Bill), and sisters Ruth, Helen, Esther and Esther’s son Eugene Immerman. She was also preceded in death by her nephew Joel Kahn and her beloved son-in-law William Heyd. Her devoted nieces and nephews, wonderful neighbors and numerous loyal and devoted friends will sadly miss Marion. She lived a long fulfilling, happy life and left all who loved her with many cherished memories. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 25th at Gillies Funeral Home from 11:00 am to the funeral at 3:00 pm. Reverend Linda Jo Powers will officiate. Burial will be in Twin Lakes Cemetery in the spring. Memorial donations suggested to Temple Beth-El, Alpena, or to the Lincoln United Methodist Church. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marion Kahn Mills, please visit our flower store.