Mildred Stewart 06/19/2019

Mildred Stewart, age 88, died Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at St. Croix Health Center in New Richmond. Mildred (Millie) Delores Stewart was born on August 14th, 1930 in Barron County, WI – the 5th of 7 children born to James Franklin Shafer and Gladys Moriah Caswell-Shafer.  Times were hard in the 30’s and the family moved several times during her adolescent years which caused her to have to “catch up” at some schools and “slow down” at others depending on the curriculums used in each area.  According to Millie, she and her siblings always got picked on because they were the new kids – so she was very happy when she entered high school and they stayed in the Clear Lake area where she made some lifelong friends.  Millie graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1948 – no one had big parties back then for graduation.  Her comment was “after graduation we went home and we were happy and that was about it!”  She began her work career at a bank in Amery as secretary to the bank president and she loved that job.  She had begun dating Donnie Stewart in her senior year of high school but things didn’t look promising when her parents decided to move to Oregon and begin a new life.  It was expected that she go, too.  However, they were back in 3 months and her position was filled by then so she had to look elsewhere for employment and found a good job at Northern Supply, a farm feed store.  Donnie was glad she was back and presented her with a ring to seal the deal so she wouldn’t leave the area again – at least without him.  After they got married on April 6, 1950 Millie started her life as a wife and mother on the farm.  2 children were born – James Thomas on June 29, 1951 and Lynnette Marie on November 12, 1954.  Since Don hated farming – she followed him into Clear Lake where he took over the local milk delivery service and she worked as his bookkeeper along with some time spent as the office manager of the local veterinary clinic.  It wasn’t too long and Don decided to go into the insurance business and Millie followed him as his office manager.  In 1974 Don & Millie moved to Eau Claire as Don had been promoted to District Manager.  You guessed it – Millie followed him as his office manager.  When the time came for retirement, Don wanted desperately to live in Arizona where his arthritis and knees felt so much better.  They sold the house and moved in with Lynn and Chuck for summers and Millie followed Don to Arizona for the winters.   The time came for their adventure to change in 2016 when the move was made back to Wisconsin.  Health deteriorated and both Don and Millie moved to the St. Croix Health Center – first Don and then Millie followed 1 month later.  Don passed away in 2017 and now, Millie has followed Don for the last time.  We know they are together in heaven and we will see them again – when we follow them.
Millie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Don Stewart; her parents, Jim and Gladys; her siblings, Dorothy, Bill, Joyce, Gordon, Jim and Vivian. She is survived by her son, Jim (Cheryl) Stewart and daughter, Lynn (Chuck) Munson; grandchildren, Jamie Rivera, Joe (Josie) Stewart, Andy (Mari) Munson, Amber (Wayne) Zach; great-grandchildren, Asia & Joshua Rivera (Jamie), Brandon & Gavin Stewart (Joe), Daisy, Veronica, Charlie, Sally, Mark, Travis, Nathan, Lila, Henry, Grace, Jordan & Zack Munson (Andy), and Connor & Brayden Zach (Amber) along with many nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service was held Monday, July 1, 2019 at 11:00 AM at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services (728 S. Knowles Ave, New Richmond, WI 54017) with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Private family interment was in Clear Lake Cemetery. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.