Miller, Donald Peter (1930 - 2023)

MILLER, ANDERSEN, PUDENZ, YOUNG, LEINEN, GROSS, WEIHS, BUELTEL, FREUND

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 5/9/2023 at 13:55:50

Name of deceased: Donald Peter Miller

Aged: 93 yrs, 4 days

Residence: Elm Crest Retirement Community, Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Born: April 25, 1930; rural Pretty Prairie, 10 miles northwest of Defiance, Shelby County, IA

Died: April 29, 2023; Elm Crest Retirement Community, Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial: Wednesday, May 3, 2023, St. Peter's Catholic Church, Defiance, IA; burial was in Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery, Defiance, IA

Survived by: Wife of 64 years, Alice Miller of Defiance, IA; children, Keith (spouse, Marsha) of Vail, IA, Cheryl (spouse, Butch) Andersen of Harlan, IA, Craig (spouse, Lisa) Miller of Ankeny, IA and Lori Miller of Harlan, IA; grandchildren, Matt Andersen, Malissa (spouse, Calvin) Pudenz, Jessica (spouse, Trevor) Young, Chris Miller, Jenna Miller and Camden Leinen; great-granddaughters, Lauren, Blaire and Quinn Pudenz; siblings, Duane Miller of Denison, IA and Mary (spouse, Joe) Gross of Donahue, IA; sisters-in-law, Mary Miller of Irwin, IA and Audrey Miller of Omaha, NE; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Frank and Isabel (nee Weihs) Miller; sister, Norma (and spouse, Tony) Bueltel; brothers, Vern Miller, Mark (and spouse, Patricia) Miller, Gene Miller, Larry (and spouse, Ann) Miller; sister-in-law, Sue Miller

Education: Attended school at Greely No. 4, rural Shelby County, IA. In the 8th grade, he went to St. Paul's Catholic School from which he graduated with the Class of 1948.

Religious affiliation: Life-long member, St. Peter's Catholic Church, Defiance, IA, where he served on the parish council.

Military service: Enlisted in the U. S. Air Force where he served honorably from 1950-1954; Don took basic training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX. On completion of basic training, he attended Aircraft and Engine School at Sheppard AFB at Wichita Falls, TX. Upon completion of that school, he was stationed at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, NV and worked as a crew chief on F-86's.

Marriage: Alice Freund; April 6, 1959; St. Joseph Catholic Church, Earling, Shelby County, IA

Employment: After his military service, he returned home and attended barber school in Des Moines, IA; he worked for a number of years as a barber while also working for the Milwaukee Railroad. After the railroad closed, he began working for Jacobs Well Drilling in Harlan, IA. In retirement, he worked for Shelby County Conservation at Manteno Park, IA.

Hobbies/Interests: Enjoyed gardening and working in their yard; Don served on the Defiance (IA) Town Council; was a member of Defiance (IA) American Legion Post 707 where he served as Adjutant

Sources: kjan.com; pauleyjones.com