Denise ‘EC’ Marie Miarecki Stillman, 46, lost her courageous battle with cancer on November 7, 2018. She was born November 28, 1971 to Gale and Wanda Miarecki.  She was preceeded in death by brothers David and Stephen.  She is sister to Debra Vera and Abby Shelton, mother to Claire and John Stillman and wife of Thomas Mietzel of Columbus, Wisconsin. She is aunt and godmother to nieces and nephews and survived by several cousins, aunts and uncles.

Born in Chicago, she moved with her family to Goose Lake / Coal City, Illinois, where she graduated valedictorian from Coal City High School in 1989. She graduated from Bradley University in 1992 and earned her Masters of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 1999.

After college, she entered into married life and the workforce. Denise was always loving and caring with the most unselfish and glowing heart. Her vocabulary rarely contained the words “I or my,” and she most often used “we and/or us.” Her life’s attitude and love was contagious and admired by everyone she met. Everyone felt her presence and love when she entered a room.

Denise enjoyed an 18-year career in marketing before pursuing her passion of entrepreneurship. She is a member of the worldwide Association of Business Coaches, the recipient of several Publicity Club of Chicago Silver and Gold Trumpets and the Public Relations Society of America MacEachern Award.

In the fall of 2013 she set her eyes on a business venture that captured her passion and dreams when she decided to become an entrepreneur. She made the decision to buy and preserve the Field Of Dreams movie site in Dyersville, Iowa. Her vision was to build a mecca for traveling baseball kids similar to Cooperstown in New York. She was truly in her element, especially when celebrating the 25th anniversary of the namesake movie.

Denise married her love, soul mate and business partner, Tom Mietzel in Puerto Rico surrounded by family and friends in November 2016.

Our EC was loved and respected by many friends, business partners, and family all across the country and world. She will be missed by everyone who had the opportunity and pleasure to meet and talk with her. We are going to miss you like crazy “Little Rabbit.”