John E. Miller
July 04, 2020
- Share:
-
-
-
Service Details
John Edward Miller was making coffee at home July 4th when his heart stopped beating and he left us to be with the Lord. He was 78 years old.
He is the son of Marcellinus and Margaret (Wayman) Miller and was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1941. He graduated from North High School in 1959 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy until 1963. He was a Machinist Mate Second Class assigned to the U.S.S. Piedmont AD 17. John was referred to as a “Teenage Petty Officer.”
John founded the Accurate Mechanical Company in Des Moines in 1974 with his 13 year old daughter proudly handwriting the bills. The company grew and became influential in the mechanical contractors industry in central Iowa for many years.
He was a former member of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33, former Signatory Contractor of Local 33, and former member and president of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Iowa. John was a member of the Golden K Kiwanis and North High School Alumni.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Carol Elaine Miller; children, Linda (Tim) Jennings, Pat Miller (Kim), Mark Miller (Julie), Joel (Mary) Werley, and Andy Werley; as well as his sister, Marty Weaver. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jonathan (Jenny) Wall, Staci (Kyle) Strand, Tony Miller (Janae), Ashley (Nate) Richards, Eddie (Cindy) Miller, Kendra (Brad) Evans, Elizabeth (Nathan) Merical, Jacke Smith, Kurtis (Catherine) Smith, Caden Bennett-Werley and Solomon Werley, and his great-grandchildren, Emily and Henry Wall; Hayden and Charlie Strand; Olivia and Delilah Miller; Jensen Miller, Madison and Aubree Evans; Tyler, Katie, Ryan and Bella Merical; John Harvey, Jace and Jake Dean; Iziah, Jack, Ayla and Ayro Smith.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Marcellinus and Margaret Miller; sisters, Alma, Mary and Elizabeth; and a brother-in-law, Phil Weaver.
He was a wonderful Husband, Father, and Gramps. He loved us. John had a quick wit that made you laugh. He thrived on working, being busy, and accomplishing things. He was an overall good man; a really genuinely good man. Thank you John for being a part of all of our lives. You have given us so many wonderful memories.
A service of remembrance was held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2020, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines, with the family receiving visitors from 1-2 p.m. If guests are unable to attend the service in person, the family invites friends to join them virtually for John’s service through the link in his obituary on Hamilton’s website.
Burial of his cremated remains will be held 11 a.m. Saturday May 28, 2022 at Glendale Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by US Navy Funeral Honor Guard. All our welcome to attend his interment.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the North High School Polar Bear Scholarship Fund, 501 Holcomb Street, Des Moines, IA 50313.
Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Teri Meendering
07/10/2020
My sincerest sympathy is with your whole family. May the many wonderful memories you all have help bind you together in this hardest of times.
Jill Johnson
07/10/2020
Carol and family, so sorry for your loss. May you find peace and comfort knowing he is with his Lord and Savior.
Uncle John will always hold a special place in my heart. He granted this young girl's dream of owning a horse, by giving me Midnight. Those were the best years and he also gave me a horrible time, when I wanted to pierce my ears in 5th grade. I loved sharing a pop with him too. I will cherish the memories. I have wonderful thoughts of John and his best friend, (my dad Jerry Nelson) having a wonderful reunion in heaven! God Bless Y'all
ramona keller
07/10/2020
I was blessed to know John from 5th grade through 12th. We had a neighborhood "gang" Not troublemakers, just kids playing softball, riding our bikes, running our homemade cars down the large hill on Clark Street. He has always been a great memory and even though I haven't seen him since High School I will miss him being here. May you find great comfort in the memories you have of him.
Carolyn and Bill Kuhn
07/10/2020
Carol, we are so sad to learn of John's passing. We know what a void this must leave in your family and in your hearts. We extend our sincere condolences to you and all of your family. Please know that you are in our hearts and prayers always.
Tom & Kelly McKee
07/10/2020
Our deepest condolences to all of you. May the memories that each of you had with John help ease your pain. He gave each of you the greatest gift. His love. Hold tight to it and share his love with those that you love. Keep his memory alive.
Tom & Kelly McKee
Bev Fry
07/09/2020
Carol and family,
My deepest sympathy to you on the loss of your husband, father, grandfather and great grandpa. He was a good man and left a wonderful legacy, family??
Gary Wood
07/09/2020
I am sorry to hear of John's passing. My deepest condolences to you and your family. I knew John and the Boys when they put in new units at Super Value Warehouse.
Eva Marie Evans
07/08/2020
Dear Carol, I am so very sorry to hear of John's passing. My deepest condolences to you and your family. I will always think of John when I make homemade rolls just as you taught each of us to make.
Teri Mabon
07/08/2020
We send our sincere condolences to the entire family and are very sorry for your loss. Met John through Joel, Mary and family and remember him being a friendly soul. May John live on in the memories you all have of him. Prayers during this difficult time. Barry & Teri Mabon
Diane McClannahan
07/08/2020
Linda, I was so very sorry to read about your father's death. He sounded like a wonderful man and father. May you hold all your precious memories close. Prayers and hugs for you and all your family and friends at this difficult time. ?? ??
Dr. Larry & Betty Martindale
07/07/2020
Dear Carol, Linda, Pat, Mark, Joel, Andy, Marty, and family:
On behalf of the North High class of 1959 and my wife Betty, we extent to you are most sincere condolences in the passing of our classmate and good friend John Miller. John was well liked and admired by all of his classmates at North high school from 1957 through 1959 when we graduated together. John was always a gentleman, was very clever and witty in the things that he said, and was always thinking of others instead of himself. To say that John loved his family greatly would be in understatement. John was well admired in the business community of mechanical contractors and was
known honorably well beyond the boundaries of Des Moines and central Iowa. John was undoubtedly one of the wealthiest members from the class of 59. He was also one of the most humble men, and joked to me privately that he didnt too bad in life for a kid who never went to college. In every conversation I ever had with John, he was always talking about his family and how proud he was of each of them, especially the grand children. John cared about all people, not just those he knew well, with those people who were in need and those people who were hurting. He used to remark often about how lucky he felt he was blessed with such a good family and had so much success in business.
Our thoughts and prayers will be with each of you in the days and months that lie ahead.