Jake Merlin Mills

Jake Merlin Mills, 73, a resident of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and formerly of Davenport, Iowa passed away peacefully at Hospice Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Hospital in the presence of his loving wife, Bette and family members on July 29, 2007 after a brief illness.
A memorial mass will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, September 8, 2007 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Davenport. The family will greet friends from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M Friday, September 7, 2007 at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf, Iowa where a rosary will be recited at 6:30 P.M. At 7:00 P.M., the family invites all to share special memories of Jake. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday, September 10, 2007 at the Rock Island National Cemetery. Those wishing to attend the graveside service should meet at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home by 9:30 A.M.
Jake was a unique, devoted guy with a generous heart and sense of humor, always giving to his family, community and his God. He will be greatly missed. He was a devoted, loving husband to Bette. They were married on October 1, 1982. His spirit will live on in their ballroom dance, “May I Have This Dance For the Rest of My Life.”
Merlin was born in Dubuque, Iowa to the late Elmer & Bernetta Mills in 1934. He was educated at St. Columbkille High School in Dubuque and proudly served 4 years in the U.S. Navy. He worked 10 years for Dubuque Pack and 30 years for Oscar Mayer & Company of Davenport. He retired in 1997 and moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida in 1999. He volunteered helping with handicapped children, especially autistic children. (His own grandson, Stephen is autistic)
He was active as president of the district for F.M.O. (Federation of Mobile Home Owners) at the state level in Florida. He checked on shut-ins and made sure less fortunate people were okay in the Meadows Park where he lived. “You are love and appreciated by everyone, Merlin.”
In addition to his loving wife, his survivors are his son, Mike (Vickie) Mills of Swansea, Illinois; his daughters, Candi (Jay) Zambory of Royal Palm Beach, Florida and Chris (Rick) Herman of Davenport; his son, Gary Novoselac of Davenport; his loving grandchildren, Matthew, Olivia & Roman Mills of Swansea, Iowa, Amber & Jeff Gonzalez of New York, Ricky Herman of Davenport and Randy & Stephen Zambory of Tallahassee, Florida; his great-granddaughter, Alexandria Lynn Gonzalez in New York; his sisters, Viola Steffen and Ruth Davis, both of Dubuque and Pearl Bennett of Chicago, Illinois; his brothers, Elmer Mills and Harold Mills, both of Dubuque and Bernell Mills of Sarasota, Florida. Jake also had many nieces & nephews whom he dearly loved.
Those preceding him in death were his sister, Gladys Curler; his brothers, Carl Mills and Don Mills; and his special niece & nephews, Curt & Cindy Steffen and Wesley Davis.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family to be shared with Jake’s favorite charities.