JoAnn A. (Savage) Mills

JoAnn Audrey Savage Mills, age 84, of Washington, Kansas, passed away on June 25, 2025, at Cambridge Place Senior Village in Marysville, Kansas.

Visitation was held Sunday, June 29, from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Ward Funeral Home in Washington. The family was present to greet friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 30, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church near Greenleaf, Kansas, with Pastor Randy Jahnke officiating. Burial followed at Maplewood Cemetery near Barnes.

Pallbearers were Eric Savage, Mitchell Savage, Dalton Savage, John Bruna, Trycin Sauvage, and Edgar Lee Pralle. Luke Savage was honored posthumously as a pallbearer.

JoAnn was born on February 24, 1941, in Marysville, Kansas, the daughter of Edgar Herman and Velma Iola (Behrens) Pralle. She graduated from Marysville High School in 1958.

On May 5, 1960, she married Jerry L. Savage at Afton Lutheran Church southwest of Marysville. Together, they made their home in Barnes, Kansas, and were blessed with three children: David, Kris, and Darrel. Shortly after moving to Greenleaf, Jerry passed away on August 20, 1989. JoAnn later married Glenn Mills on December 4, 1993, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and relocated to Washington.

JoAnn worked at Bremen Farmers Mutual before serving as bookkeeper and secretary/treasurer for USD #223 in Barnes until retirement. After her second marriage, she worked part-time at Marcon Pies, Lohrengel Tax & Accounting, and Ward Funeral Home. She also volunteered at the Washington Library and with hospice care.

She was a devoted member of LWML at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, the Cedar Hills Ladies Golf Association—where she served as treasurer—and the Hustle Bustle Club in Barnes.

JoAnn loved staying active with painting, crafts, and sewing blankets for her nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. She enjoyed baking scones, tending to her yard and flowers, and sharing simple joys with Glenn—drives in the country, meals out, bingo nights, and occasional casino trips. Together they often said, “We didn’t do a lot, but liked what we did.”

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jerry; and her grandson, Luke Kent Savage, on October 15, 2012.

She is survived by her husband, Glenn Mills of the home; three children David A. (Tina) Savage of Greenleaf, Kansas, and their children Eric (Elise) Savage and Mitchell Savage (fiancée Courtney Harrison); Kris J. (Dan) Hargrave of Waterville, Kansas, and their children Terra (John) Bruna and great-grandchildren Maggie and Grady, and Madison (Trycin) Sauvage; Darrel L. (Kim) Savage of Topeka, Kansas, and their children Dalton (Lillian) Savage and great-grandchild Theo Luke Savage, and Mackenzie Savage; her brother, Edgar A. Pralle of Blue Rapids, Kansas; and two sisters, Twila F. (Larry) Smith of Middleburg, Florida, and Jeanette Pralle of Blue Rapids.

A memorial fund has been established to benefit Bethlehem Lutheran Church or Meadowlark Hospice. Contributions may be sent to the care of Ward Funeral Home, P.O. Box 157, Washington, KS 69668