from Tracey Myers of NHL.com,

Stan Mikita fans had the opportunity to say goodbye to the Chicago Blackhawks legend on Sunday and JoAnne Schmitt-Berg didn't want to miss one minute.

The 54-year-old from Chicago was first in a long line of fans that wrapped around the United Center for public visitation of Mikita, who died Tuesday at 78.

"I'd stand in line all day long to get to say goodbye," said Schmitt-Berg, who was there at 7:20 a.m. CT, almost four hours before the doors opened at 11 a.m. "We'll miss him."

Most of those who attended the service, many wearing No. 21 jerseys, signed a poster of Mikita when they entered the United Center atrium. Mikita's casket was flanked by two vases of roses in his favorite color, yellow.

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