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Eunice Kaye (Muller) McMillin, 78, of Elkader, was peacefully released from her earthly struggle Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, while surrounded by the love of her adoring family.
She was born June 11, 1946, to Klaas J. and Carrian L. (Finke) Muller in Grundy Center. She was baptized Dec. 1, 1946, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wellsburg. On April 10, 1960, she was confirmed at Salem Lutheran Church in Parkersburg.
Eunice attended Dike Community School in Dike, and graduated in 1964. Her teachers and classmates made note of her humor, kind and welcoming personality and immense potential. She married Harold McMillin, Jr. on Aug. 26, 1966, in Parkersburg. The couple had three children, Bradley, Denise and Tim. They later divorced in December 1989.
As an adult, Eunice lived in several communities in Iowa including Waverly (1964-1968), Dubuque (1969-1973), Tripoli (1973-1976), Dows (1976-1983), Fontanelle (1983-1988) and Elkader from 1988 until her death. Eunice loved Elkader and considered it her home.
Eunice began her working career as a secretary at Lutheran Mutual Life in Waverly and Flexsteel Industries in Dubuque. Her attention turned to raising her family and supporting her husband’s ministry in the Lutheran Church during the late 1970s and 1980s. After moving to Elkader in 1988, she worked as a clerk at various locations, proofreader at the Clayton County Register and most significantly as a pharmacy technician at Moser Pharmacy until her retirement in 2016 after 26 years. Her greatest joy at work was to meet and assist community friends and spend the day with people she enjoyed. She is remembered by many as a kind and welcoming presence who was always ready with a witty remark.
Outside of work, Eunice was an active member of all the churches she attended and recently found Peace United Church of Christ in Elkader her spiritual home. She was a friend to everyone she knew and particularly enjoyed playing cards with a special group of friends in Elkader. An avid fan of the arts, Eunice took pride in supporting performances at the local school and Elkader Opera House.
Eunice enjoyed and took great pride in following the many activities of her three grandchildren in Minnesota and loved attending her son’s musical performances in the Des Moines area when she was able. Perhaps most memorable though, was the precious time she and her adult children were able to spend together while traveling during a series of trips to various cities in the U.S. and Canada.
Her surviving family aspires to honor her kindness, grace, wit and love for others. She is survived by her daughter, Denise (Kyle) Shaffer of Ham Lake, Minnesota; son, Tim McMillin (Seth Robb) of Des Moines; grandchildren: Zach (Alex) Shaffer, Nate Shaffer and Kayla Shaffer; sister-in-law, Kay Muller of Norwalk; niece, Annie (Jason) Williamson of Norwalk; many cousins, great-nieces and a great-nephew. She will also be remembered fondly by her chosen family including sisters-in-law, Yvonne Miller of Iowa Falls and Janis (John) Casserly of Wentzville, Missouri; brother-in-law, Randy (Mary Ann) McMillin of Elkader, her nephews and niece, many treasured neighbors and friends.
Eunice was preceded in death by her parents, Klaas J. and Carrian L. (Finke) Muller; her brother, Calvin Muller and her son, Bradley McMillin.
Her family thanks her caregivers including MercyOne Elkader, St. Luke’s Hospital (Cedar Rapids), Wesley on Grand and Wesley Life Hospice (Des Moines) for the expert care and comfort shared with Eunice in her last months.
A visitation was held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5 at Peace United Church of Christ in Elkader. Funeral Services were at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at the church with with Rev. Paula Anderson officiating. A private family inurnment was held at Norway Lutheran Cemetery in rural St. Olaf. Leonard-Grau Funeral Home of Elkader is assisting the family.