Janine Elizabeth (Minnich) Millager, a longtime resident of Bluffton and then of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away on September 18, 2026, at the age of 87. She was born on May 5, 1939, to Marion (Tam) and Helen Minnich in Continental, Ohio. She met the love of her life, Richard (Dick) Millager, at Methodist church camp when they were both 14 years old, and they married on October 30, 1960. They were one month shy of celebrating their 66th anniversary at the time of her passing. After graduation from Continental High School, Janine completed training at Elkhart University in Elkhart, Indiana, and became a certified lab technician, working at hospitals in Bluffton and Lima, Ohio. She later worked alongside Dick in the family’s drug store and restaurant businesses, and in the production department at The Bluffton News.

A lifelong Methodist, she was an active member of Bluffton First United Methodist Church for many years, and then Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, where she enjoyed ringing in the Bell Choir, reading to students in Whiz Kids, and using her sewing talents in the Helping Hands ministry. An avid golfer and bowler, Janine had a lifelong love of sports of all kinds, especially Ohio State Buckeye football! [“O-H…”]

Janine was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Myron Minnich. She is survived by her husband Richard, daughter Jill Hudson (Chris), son Todd Millager and daughter Niki Millager, her grandchildren Madison Matisse (Nate), Dexter Hudson (Sydney) and Evan Hudson (Alyssa), and great-granddaughters Orly, Lowen, Eloise, Elyse and Emori. A memorial service will be held at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City on October 23, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider making a donation to the Whiz Kidz reading program at Chapel Hill in her honor.