Mildred C. ‘Millie’ Stearns

She was born Sept. 15, 1948, in Fort Collins, Colo., daughter of the late Urb and Jeanette (Hockers) Steinmetz. Millie graduated from Escanaba High School in 1966 and went on to attend Lansing Community College.

She married Jim Stearns on Aug. 17, 1968, in Escanaba. They moved to Kingsford in 1980, and Millie worked as a transcriptionist for many years, retiring in 2018. She also founded and operated Millie’s Steno Service in 1992. She was a member of American Martyrs Catholic Church in Kingsford and was a 10+ gallon blood donor.

Millie enjoyed reading, fishing, playing pinochle, collecting antique picture postcards and played adult soccer for many years. Most of all, she cherished time spent with her family.

Millie is survived by her children, Jim Stearns of Kingsford and Wendy (Brad) Koski of Iron Mountain; brothers, Bob (Judy) Steinmetz and Jim (Terry) Steinmetz; sisters, Lee (Den) Deneau and Mary (Pat) Steinmetz-Ness; brother-in-law, Tom (Deb) Stearns of Bark River; sisters-in-law, Mary Lou Carrigan and Sharon Steinmetz; granddaughters, Maddie and Baylee Koski; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Millie was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; and a brother, Pete Steinmetz.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 21, from 9 until 10:30 a.m. at the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. on Thursday at American Martyrs Catholic Church in Kingsford. Fr. Joseph Gouin will offer the Mass of Christian burial.

Burial will be in the Homestead-Aurora Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Jim and Bob Steinmetz, Dennis Deneau, Brad Koski, Pat Ness, and Tom Stearns.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kathy’s House at https://kathys-house.org/ways-to-give/ or the Iron Mountain Senior Center.

Condolences to the family of Millie Stearns may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.