David Duane Mills

David Duane Mills, age 90, of Strongs, Michigan, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2025, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Dave was born on April 13, 1935, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to the late Melvin and Bernice (Weaver) Mills. Dave grew up on a farm in Brimley, Michigan. While attending Brimley High School, he was a member of the 1951 Boys Basketball Class D State Championship team. After high school, he purchased his first dump truck, and his lifelong passion of trucking began. Dave owned and invested in many businesses. In the 1970’s Dave started D&B Service. D&B provided tar and chip road surfacing, and lawn sod sales and installation. Dave’s business partner in D&B convinced Dave and his father Melvin to begin producing lawn sod on 80 acres of the family farm. After many years, D&B Service went out of business, but the sod farm continues to this day. Dave’s next business venture was purchasing a log truck and hauling logs for local wood producers. Dave’s loads of logs were a beautiful sight to see as logs were equally aligned on the trailer with skill. Dave and his wife Jinny purchased a motel/restaurant in the early 1980’s, and Dave prided himself as the “official taste tester”. Dave provided financial assistance to business entrepreneurs. One of those was an embroidery screening on sweatshirts business, which at the time was a very new concept. This business was also one of the first of its kind to include a mock turtleneck on a sweatshirt which is still quite popular today. Dave was also a musician. He played the guitar, sang, and played the banjo. His band the “Dave Mills Trio” played many of the local taverns in the area on Saturday nights and sometimes played fourteen nights in a row during deer season. Dave is survived by his children, David (Rebecca) Mills of Eckerman, Michigan, Debra (Bill) Connolly of Sault Ste. Marie, Tami (Steve) Beseau of Strongs, Lisa (Ron) Meister of Brimley, Michigan, and Daniel (Carey) Mills of Brimley; grandchildren, Steven (Kristie) Beseau, Jason Mills, Holly (Paul) Thompson, Derek (Amanda) Beseau, David (Kalce) Mills, Taylor Mills, Katelyn Mills, Samantha (Dylan) Schroeder, and Olivia Wilcox; great-grandchildren, Aiden Beseau, Gavin Beseau, Peyton Beseau, Max Thompson, Danika Beseau, Miles Thompson, Daphne Beseau, Roslyn Mills, Rachel Adelynn Mills, Scottland Schroeder, Augustus Schroeder and Clayton Mills; brother, James Mills of Newberry, Michigan; brother-in-law, Bill Kinsella of Brimley; sister-in-law, Jo McGuire of Holt, Michigan; and many nieces and nephews. Dave was preceded in death by his beloved wife of forty-two years, Virginia (Clarke) Mills; parents, Melvin and Bernice; and granddaughter, Rachel Ann Mills. A Graveside Service will be held on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at 12:30 PM at the Coburn Cemetery in Strongs, Michigan. Friends and family are encouraged to attend a Celebration of Life luncheon at the Chippewa Township Hall, 30014 W. M-28, Eckerman, Michigan, following the burial at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to McLaren Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Hiland Drive, Petoskey, MI 49770. Stories and memories of Dave, may be sent to: flfh@familylifefh.com Family Life Funeral Home - Sault Ste. Marie, has assisted with these arrangements. Obituary as submitted by family.

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David Duane Mills

April 13, 1935 - August 26, 2025