MILDRED I. YOS
In Loving Memory of Mildred Yos of Milan, Missouri, died Thursday, April 8, 2021 at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri.
Mildred was the daughter of Charles and Lavina (Taylor) Gardner and was born on February 28, 1922 in Melrose, Iowa. She was the 2nd oldest of 8 children. Her father, Charles, was an electrician and they moved from Iowa to southern Missouri, near Mountain Grove to do electrical work in schools, businesses, and homes. Charles died in 1939 leaving Lavina with 8 children to raise, so they moved to the Green City area to be near Lavina’s parents. Mildred was a great help to her mother in raising the younger children.
She met Paul Yos in Green City and they were married on February 16, 1946 after he returned from serving overseas during World War II. They bought a farm northwest of Milan and raised 3 daughters there.
Surviving are Sandra Jones of Lee’s Summit, MO, Donna Perrin of Bennington, NE, and Patty Jessen and husband Jon of Kansas City, MO. They also have 6 grandchildren, Kristina Miller, Kelly Lester, Jennifer Owens, Jeff Jessen, Katie Fencl, and Dan Jessen; 8 great grandchildren: Anthony Mayer, Rebecca Mayer, Kyle Fitzgerald, Luke VanSittert, Joey Owens, Ben Owens, Brooklyn Fencl, and Jameson Fencl.
She is also survived by her 3 sisters, Ann Sears of Kansas City, Mo, Carmen Yos of Kirksville, Mo. and Frances Bunch of Milan, Mo.
Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, of 56 years on February 21, 2002. Also preceding her in death were her parents, 3 brothers Wayne, Ralph, and Carl Gardner and 1 sister, Thelma Posey.
Mildred was active in the American Legion Auxiliary and was a 69 year member. She was also involved in the 4-H Club, teaching sewing to many young ladies in the area. She and Paul loved to square dance, play cards, and travel. They pulled a travel trailer from the east coast to the west coast and spent many winters in Mercedes, Texas with a group of friends. One of their last adventures together was with their good friends, Louis and Doris Ayers, traveling by car and by boat to Alaska and the North Pole. She was also active in the Asbury United Methodist Church and the Prairie Chapel United Methodist Church.
Mildred loved to piece quilts, go mushroom hunting and collect Precious Moments and she was an amazing cook! She also loved her country and the flag and all it stood for and could tell you all about flag etiquette. She worked side by side with Paul on the farm and helped in his political career and remained active in Sullivan County politics after his death. She worked many years at Poole’s Store before buying her own store, Webb’s Paint. In her retirement years, she also worked at Schoene’s Furniture Store.
She remained on the farm after Paul’s death and relocated in 2017 to Kansas City, Missouri to be closer to family and lived in a beautiful retirement community.
She was loved by all who knew her and will be sadly missed by her family. But she is once again reunited with those she loved, especially Paul.
Funeral services for Mildred were held Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at Schoene- Ruschmeier Funeral Home in Milan with Jim Heaton officiating. Burial followed at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Green City, Missouri. Pallbearers were: Jon Jessen, Jeff Jessen, Dan Jessen, Anthony Mayer, Kyle Fitzgerald, Luke VanSittert, and John VanSittert.
Contributions in her memory can be made to Prairie Chapel Church or the American Legion.
