Katherine McMillan was born to Greek immigrants Thomas and Athina Papadatos Haikalis on October 18th 1933 in Chicago, Illinois. She departed this life of 84 years on Monday, February 5th 2018 in Beloit, Kansas.
After graduating from Englewood High School in Chicago in 1951, she went to work for Paramount Pictures. In 1955 Katherine was a Co-Host on the Bill Bailey Show in Cincinnati, Ohio on ABC-TV. Her talents were many and she acted in Summer Stock Theater as Kathie Hi. In 1959 she joined Pan American Airways as a stewardess based in Miami for 2 years and San Francisco for 1 year. She resigned in November 1961 in order to marry Gordon W. McMillan on November 16th 1961. They were blessed with two children, Gordon Thomas in 1964 and Sue Athina in 1967. Katherine was a devoted wife and mother. The family moved from Chicago to Kansas in 1975 to take over the family farm operation and rear their two children. Katherine was a Home Health Caregiver for many in Beloit and surrounding areas for over 20 years. She was known for being cheerful and took pride in doing her job as a lifeline for many people. She had many friends around the world and was a “true-blue” friend to them, knowing no strangers and always taking the time to speak to anyone who was lucky enough to catch her ear. Katherine was a beautiful person inside and out, was a devout Christian and loved The Lord.
Katherine was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Mary Winczo(Marion) and Diane Rafalin(Saul). She is survived by her Husband, her son, Col. Gordon T. McMillan and wife Mary of Beloit, her daughter, Sue Havens of Pennington, NJ and her step-daughter Kathy Walker(Thomas)of Fairview, OK; her sisters Frances Burns(Charles), Gloria Pollys(Chris), Goldie Rossi and Helen Souris(Bill); her Grandchildren Mitch, Thom, Russell, Cody, Lane, Ben, Helena & Luc and 3 Great-Grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 10 AM Friday, February 9 at the Roberts Family Funeral Home followed by burial in Pleasant View Cemetery south of Beloit. Visitation will be from 1-8 PM Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the American Heart Association.