John Miller

A celebration of life for John A. Miller 94, of Kalona will be held Sunday, April 10, 2011 at 2:00PM at the Fairview Mennonite Church in rural Kalona with Pastors Perry Miller and Leon Stutzman officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery.  Visitation will be held Saturday, April 9 from 2-4 and 6-8PM at the Fairview Mennonite Church.  A memorial fund has been established for the Gospel Echoes Prison Ministry and Iowa City Hospice.  John A. Miller died Wednesday, April 06, 2011 at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona as a result of declining health. John Alfred Miller was born August 14, 1916 in Midland, Michigan, the son of Dan J. S. and Catherine (Blucker) Miller.  He attended Franklin Rural School in Iowa County.  On August 14, 1938 he was united in marriage to Effie Marie Swartzendruber at the Fairview Mennonite Church.  He farmed for many years and also worked as a nursing assistant at the VA Hospital in Iowa City for 24 years.  John was a member of the Fairview Mennonite Church and the Kalona Koffee Klub.  He enjoyed fishing, woodworking and wintering in Florida and Texas. John loved music and enjoyed singing bass in a men's chorus.  Scripture memorization was important to him and even when other faculties declined he was able to quote Bible verses.  He also enjoyed joining in the music when Chaplain David Yoder led Bible study at the Pleasantview Home. Survivors include his wife Effie of Kalona, four daughters, Judy (Eldon) Gingerich of Riverside, Phyllis (Art) Bassett of Cleveland, GA, Joy (Ron) Cuchna of Amana, IA, Lorna (Glendon) Bender of Goshen, IN, 14 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, one sister, Vira Hershberger of Harrisonburg, VA and two brothers, Howard (Margaret) Miller of Phoenix, AZ, and Willard Miller of Nixa, MO. Preceding John in death were his parents, one son, Richard Miller, a great granddaughter, Melanie Gingerich, two brothers, Fred and Mervin Miller and two sisters, Irene Smoker and Marie Stutzman.