John P. Miller, Jr.

John P. Miller Jr. began his incredible journey through an amazing life in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 22, 1948, the youngest of John P. Sr. and Patricia Miller’s three children.

John’s grand adventure took him all over the world and allowed him to enrich the lives of countless wonderful people. Having earned his Master’s Degree in Education from Drake University, John demonstrated that a life well lived is a life spent in service of others. Whether in the classroom, on the field as a little league coach, as a medic in the Army, or when stooping to help a child in need, he showed us the immense value in fairness, integrity and caring for others.

Perhaps the most important lesson taught to us by John, the infamous #2 of the John P. Miller line, is that there is always a reason to laugh and joke and cheer. He took these three things seriously – well, as seriously as a guy who occasionally dressed like a clown takes things. He cheered as part of the Drake University Cheer Squad when the Men’s Basketball Team made it to the NCAA Final 4 in 1969. He cheered even louder when one of his students in the Blank Children’s Hospital School Room successfully achieved their goals. He cheered loudest of all for his family, when his granddaughter Emma completed a beam routine without falling or when his boys got a good shot during a pheasant hunt. He laughed and joked all the time but probably was the loudest and the funniest when he roamed the center ring of the circus as a Past Potentate of the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine family. There was never a time we saw him without a smile or a laugh or a joke and that always made our hearts happy.

John died suddenly Friday morning, November 25, 2022. Today the world seems quieter and a whole lot less fun. We will miss his jokes, his easy smile, his joy when talking about his family or the Shrine or the kids or the dogs or his latest round of golf. We will do our best to honor him and ask that you all do the same.

In honor of John, eat the best candy (Turtles) and pick out the sweetest puppy. Buy the toys and travel the trips especially to his favorites Alaska and Ireland. Be the biggest cheerleaders for the special kids and love those around you FIERCELY. And go to a circus. Smile and cheer and laugh like you did when you were little.

That’s what all the best people do.

John is survived by the love of his life Sheryl Lynn, his wife of 50 years, of Windsor Heights; son, Colonel John P. Miller III (Mollie) of Lansing, KS; son, Matthew L. Miller (Sarah) of Johnston; grandchildren, Emma and Jack Miller and Evan and Macy Miller; sister, Bobbie Riddle of Windsor Heights; sister, Georgianne Peterson (Bob) of Windsor Heights; sister-in-law, Jayne Hanson (Barry Kohnke) of Carroll; brother-in-law, Rod Hanson (Wendy) of West Des Moines; his extended family and friends; his Za-Ga-Zig Shrine family; and thousands of former students whose lives he touched over the course of his 43 year teaching career.


Visitation will be Monday, December 5, 2022 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Pkwy, in West Des Moines. A private Masonic Rites ceremony will follow the visitation at 7 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 10 a.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 8301 NW Aurora Ave, Urbandale. Livestreaming of the service can be found at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Past Potentate John P. Miller Jr. Memorial Endowment which will support Shrine Children’s Summer Camps and children in need.

And, finally, in the words John used to close every prayer and every speech he ever made, God Bless the Troops and bring them home safe.

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