Obituary of Steven Alfred Mills
Mills, Steven Alfred
1951-2026
On April 11th, the world lost one of its great stoics when Steve Mills, age 74, of Perth, Ontario, passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Steve was predeceased by his parents Alfred and Joan Mills. His loss will be keenly felt by his wife, best friend, and forever-Yahtzee-partner Felice, who brought him much comfort, levity, strength, and peace. Steve was loved deeply by his children Keith and Heather (Gord McGuire), his step-children Noah, Emma (Elia) and Felix, and by his beloved grandsons Oscar and Emmett McGuire.
Steve’s motto ‘love is showing up’ was never truer than with his children, step-children and grandchildren whom he loved dearly in his quiet way. Over the years, Steve became intimately familiar with hockey rinks and bookstores across Ontario following the passions of his children Keith and Heather. Later in life, Steve heartily embraced being a stepfather to Noah, Emma, and Felix, offering stability, consistency and unconditional love over the 17 years he shared with them.
Steve will always be the big brother in the Mills family. His loss is felt by sisters Nancy (Robert) and Karen, brothers David (Lynda) and Greg (Marianne), nieces Shireen, Jaleh (Zak and Ari), brother-in-law Ardeshir, and first wife Darleen McLean with whom he built an amazing life for their children.
Famously quiet, he was admired by his friends for his gentle and kind way, his dry wit, his incredible listening ability, and his willingness to show up and help whatever the task.
Although Steve’s final career stage was with the Town of Stouffville, he spent much of his working life with the York Catholic District School Board as Purchasing Manager. Prior to that he worked as a buyer with Canadian Tire and Noma. Impressively, Steve completed his bachelors degree through night school at York while working a day job with two young children at home. He is warmly remembered by his colleagues, peers and staff as being compassionate, respectful, thoughtful, and protective.
One of Steve’s most personal projects at the School Board was a program he started to provide people with cognitive disabilities the opportunity to work in the mailroom, believing in dignity and opportunity.
Continuing his spirit of stepping up, Steve took on numerous volunteer leadership roles: he was a consultant on a national advisory board during FreeTrade discussions; in OASBO (Ontario Association of School, Board Officials and OPBA (Ontario Public Buyers Association); and most recently, Warden at St. James the Apostle Anglican Church in Perth.
He also undertook numerous roles in Uxbridge Rotary. The Rotary motto, “Service Before Self”, suited him to a tee. From scrap metal drives to building trails, you could find Steve in the thick of it, doing what needed to be done, often without being asked. Steve found deep personal meaning in the connection to community through volunteerism. The impact of his projects is part of his legacy.
Steve was a distance runner, reluctant golfer, squash enthusiast, kayaker, parachuter, cyclist, and cut-throat Yahtzee player. He was never happier than when he put in a good day’s work at the office or on the lawnmower, followed by a glass of wine and catching up on his reading, before tucking into a good British mystery or Action/Adventure film.
Before his cancer progressed, Steve was in constant motion: cleaning, fixing, gardening, organizing - quietly, determinedly, getting that list checked off each day.
Those of us who knew him were better for it. He will continue to live on in all those he touched.
A Funeral Service will be at St. James the Apostle Church, Perth, ON, on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 at 2:00pm followed by a reception in the Church Hall. Any donations in Steve’s honour could be made to St. James the Apostle Church, Perth (St. James the Apostle Church) or Rotary Club of Uxbridge (Uxbridge Rotary Foundation)
“Life is eternal; and love is immortal, and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.”
