Advertisement

David Ferguson “Ferg” Mills

Advertisement

David Ferguson “Ferg” Mills Veteran

Birth
Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, USA
Death
29 Nov 2021 (aged 78)
Burial
Highwood, Lake County, Illinois, USA Add to Map
Plot
Section 10 Row F Site 155
Memorial ID
View Source
[Obituary was added by Find A Grave as a result of a merge with a duplicate memorial that contained the obituary. The contributor was not identified.]
David Ferguson Mills. Known to his friends as Ferg, David Ferguson Mills was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on June 2, 1943. He grew up in northern New Jersey and graduated from The Peddie School, Penn State (BA in Psychology) and Indiana University (MBA). While at Penn State, Ferguson was an active member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He competed in lacrosse and rugby in Club sports and enrolled in Penn State's Army ROTC program. Upon graduating from Penn State Ferguson received a commission in the United States Army. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Ferguson volunteered for paratrooper school and after a short stint with the 82ndAirborne Division, volunteered for Special Forces. He served with the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam during the period 1967-68. While in service Ferguson was awarded a Bronze Star Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge and Parachutist Badge. After completing his military obligation, Ferguson's career spanned nearly forty years working primarily in Labor Relations for Emerson Electric where he was known as a tough and effective negotiator.

Ferguson eventually settled in Highwood, Illinois where he volunteered his time at the Highwood Public Library and served as Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission from 2012 until his death. Ferguson was well known around town. He loved riding his bicycle year-round, often stopping to offer a few words of encouragement to friends along with the gift of a steel penny from 1943, the year of his birth.

From the time he was a teenager Ferguson thrived on confrontation and danger. Physically imposing, he was the perfect candidate for contact sports, intervening in bar fights and combat. It came as no surprise to the family that he volunteered for the most dangerous of missions in Vietnam, played rugby well into his 50's and took on labor disputes with relish. To his family, Ferg was a gentle giant who gave all-enveloping hugs. He was also quite the raconteur who loved to spin yarns that were far too outrageous to be true; except, in fact, they were.

Ferguson was predeceased by his father William Mills and his mother Mary Mills. He leaves behind two brothers, Robert and John, as well as a sister-in-law Linda, three nephews, Kristofor, Christian and Harrison; and two nieces, Sarah and Micah.

A private burial will be held at Fort Sheridan National Cemetery followed by an informal memorial service later this year at Seguin & Symonds Funeral Home in Highwood, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Ferg's name may be made to the Friends of the Highwood Public Library, 102 Highwood Ave, Highwood, IL 60040.
[Obituary was added by Find A Grave as a result of a merge with a duplicate memorial that contained the obituary. The contributor was not identified.]
David Ferguson Mills. Known to his friends as Ferg, David Ferguson Mills was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on June 2, 1943. He grew up in northern New Jersey and graduated from The Peddie School, Penn State (BA in Psychology) and Indiana University (MBA). While at Penn State, Ferguson was an active member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He competed in lacrosse and rugby in Club sports and enrolled in Penn State's Army ROTC program. Upon graduating from Penn State Ferguson received a commission in the United States Army. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Ferguson volunteered for paratrooper school and after a short stint with the 82ndAirborne Division, volunteered for Special Forces. He served with the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam during the period 1967-68. While in service Ferguson was awarded a Bronze Star Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge and Parachutist Badge. After completing his military obligation, Ferguson's career spanned nearly forty years working primarily in Labor Relations for Emerson Electric where he was known as a tough and effective negotiator.

Ferguson eventually settled in Highwood, Illinois where he volunteered his time at the Highwood Public Library and served as Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission from 2012 until his death. Ferguson was well known around town. He loved riding his bicycle year-round, often stopping to offer a few words of encouragement to friends along with the gift of a steel penny from 1943, the year of his birth.

From the time he was a teenager Ferguson thrived on confrontation and danger. Physically imposing, he was the perfect candidate for contact sports, intervening in bar fights and combat. It came as no surprise to the family that he volunteered for the most dangerous of missions in Vietnam, played rugby well into his 50's and took on labor disputes with relish. To his family, Ferg was a gentle giant who gave all-enveloping hugs. He was also quite the raconteur who loved to spin yarns that were far too outrageous to be true; except, in fact, they were.

Ferguson was predeceased by his father William Mills and his mother Mary Mills. He leaves behind two brothers, Robert and John, as well as a sister-in-law Linda, three nephews, Kristofor, Christian and Harrison; and two nieces, Sarah and Micah.

A private burial will be held at Fort Sheridan National Cemetery followed by an informal memorial service later this year at Seguin & Symonds Funeral Home in Highwood, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Ferg's name may be made to the Friends of the Highwood Public Library, 102 Highwood Ave, Highwood, IL 60040.

Inscription

CAPT USA
Vietnam

BSM
5th
Special Forces
MACV-SOG



Sponsored by Ancestry

Advertisement

  • Created by: Judi B
  • Added: Dec 11, 2021
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234800169/david_ferguson-mills: accessed ), memorial page for David Ferguson “Ferg” Mills (2 Jun 1943–29 Nov 2021), Find a Grave Memorial ID 234800169, citing Fort Sheridan National Cemetery, Highwood, Lake County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Judi B (contributor 47371983).