John M. Wills

John M. “Redhawk” Wills, 64, of New Philadelphia, died Tuesday, Jun. 1, 2004, in his home following a sudden illness.

Born Jan. 31, 1940, in Dennison, he was a son of the late Herbert and Helen Armstrong Wills. John attended Tuscarawas-Warwick High School and served honorably in the United States Army. He was employed by the City of Dover Police Dept. and by the Tuscarawas Co. Sheriff�(TM)s Dept. as a corrections officer and reserve deputy. John also owned and operated Handyman Services of New Philadelphia.

He was a member of the Native American Association of the Tuscarawas Valley, and was instrumental in starting the Native American Pow-Wow at the Atwood Lake Fall Festival. John volunteered for the American Red Cross, and the Tuscarawas Co, Y.M.C.A.

Survivors include his friend and former wife, Stephanie Wills of New Philadelphia; a daughter, Lisa (Eric) Porter of New Philadelphia; two sons, Stephan Wills of Dover, and Mike Wills of New Philadelphia; three grandchildren, Tyler, Trevor and Taylor; four sisters, Sandy (Ken) Balder of New Philadelphia, Joanne (Ronnie) Kaser of Dover, June (Jack) Paisley of Dover, Diane (Joe) Yoakam of Sugarcreek; two brothers, Ken (Erica) Wills of Uhrichsville, and Rev. Frank (Zera) Wills of Mississippi; several nieces and nephews; and his beloved dog, Shunka,

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Shirley Haugh; two brothers, Larry and Herbert Wills.

A funeral service celebrating John�(TM)s life will be held Saturday, Jun. 5, at 1:30 p.m., in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home, 803 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, with Rev. Glen Shedlock officiating. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Uhrichsville, where military rites will be conducted by the Tuscarawas post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. There will also be a Native American Burial service at the grave. Following the committal there will be a reception in the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center, 831 Boulevard, Dover. Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Friday, Jun. 4, 6-8 p.m. To sign the online register and share a fond memory of John, please visit the funeral home�(TM)s Web site.

Toland-Herzig, Dover
330-343-6132
www.tolandherzig.com