John Miller

The family of John Miller is mourning his passing, which occurred on March 8, 2018. He was born August 8, 1925, to Germans-from-Russia immigrants Henry Miller and Kathryn Gradwohl. He was the last of eleven children, nine born in the United States and two born in Russia. He spent his whole life farming in the Fort Bent area of the Arkansas Valley. After he sold his farm to his son David, he continued to work with him cultivating and harvesting crops, baling hay, driving trucks, and helping with irrigation until he was 91 and unable to get around as well.

On February 14, 1948, he married Patricia Jean Matthew of Rocky Ford, and they had four children, Cheryl, Michael, Patsy, and David. He served on the school board for Fort Bent School and on the board of the Arkansas Valley Coop for 22 years, and he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was a good dancer and loved to polka, and he loved German foods like bierock and German blackberry pie. He was always interested in the school, 4-H, music, dance, sports, and other activities of his children as they were growing up and insisted that they were all going to go to college, which they did.

He is survived by daughter Cheryl Thurston Armstrong and her husband Ed of Loveland, son Michael Earl Miller and wife Janet of La Junta, daughter Patsy Lee Shouse (late husband Bill) of Boise, Idaho, son John David Miller and wife Paula of La Junta, grandson John Matthew Miller of La Junta, grandson Zachary Dale Miller and wife Shanna of Pueblo, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Pat, his brothers David and Henry Miller, Jr., and his sisters Elizabeth (who remained in Russia), Eva Jirgensohn, Mary Bender, Molly Albrecht, Lydia Yergert, Leah Rein, Kathryn Kahl, and Anne Fazio.

A memorial service will be held at Peacock Memorial Chapel on Saturday, March 17, at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Ed Kite of the First Church of God in La Junta.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sangre de Cristo Hospice & Palliative Care, 1207 Pueblo Boulevard Way, Pueblo, Colorado 81005, or to the charity of choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.PeacockFH.com. Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.