Rodney Jack Mills

Our dear father, grandfather, husband, brother, and friend, Rodney Jack Mills “PapaRod” completed his journey on earth and returned to his father in heaven on Saturday, July 16, 2022, after a brief and very aggressive battle with Kidney Cancer.

Rod was born on April 6, 1959, in Ogden, Utah to Jack Emery and Gayle LeFevre Mills. Rod grew up in West Point, Utah and Clearfield, Utah and graduated from Clearfield High School in 1977. One week later he married his high school sweetheart, Sharon DiRienzo. Together they raised their four children, Tyler, Nichole, Ashley, and Blake. They later divorced. In 2018, Rod fell in love with Heidi Carter. They were married on April 5, 2019, and he spent the remainder of his life loving and caring for her.   

Rod was an avid hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman. He loved camping with his family and scouts. Rod’s passions were gardening and cooking. He was also known for his famous salsa. He was always asked to cook for wedding luncheons, celebrations, Young Women and Young Men Camps as he had a special talent for knowing how to cook for an army. Rod also loved to travel. Rod was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings including serving the youth and Boy Scouts for many years, which was his favorite. 

Rod has worked in many different industries, but for the last 30 plus years, Rod worked in the banking and pharmaceutical industry as a Loan Officer, Collector, and Pharmacy Technician. He spent many years working at ValuDrug in Clearfield, where he became friends with many members of the community. He was most recently employed for the last 13 years with Enerbank USA/Regions Bank as a Senior Collector. Rod took pride in his work and loved the people he worked with.

Rod is survived by his wife, Heidi Mills; children, Tyler (Breann) Mills of Clinton, Nichole (Andrew) Bair of West Point, Ashley (Michael) Read of Clinton, and Blake (Jill) Mills of West Haven; his grandchildren which he loved with his whole heart, Jaxsen (currently serving in the Billings, Montana mission), Taiden and Harrison Mills, Abigayle, Reese, and Ellie Bair, Madison and Kinlee Read, and Harper and Jack Mills. His stepdaughters, Celeste (Christopher) Hampton, Brandi Meredith, Nicki (Michael) Smith, and Marissa (Arthur) Carrol; and 15 additional grandchildren that he loved like his own. He is also survived by his brother, Rex (Mary) Mills; sisters, Loretta (David) Nielson, and Janet Pickart; and brother-in-law, Tim Keefe; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Debbie Keefe; stepson, Justin Brown; and best friend, Bruce Marietti.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at Lindquist's Syracuse Mortuary, 869 South 2000 West, Syracuse, Utah 84075. Family and Friends may gather on Friday, July 22, 2022, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Lindquist Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd., Ogden.

The family would like to thank Clinton City and Ogden City Fire Department, as well as, The Huntsman’s Cancer Institute, CNS Hospice, and all other medical personal who cared for Dad. We would also like to thank all the family and friends who have shared their love and support during this time.

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