Michael Earl Miller

Michael Earl Miller was born October 6, 1950, in La Junta, Colorado, to John and Patricia Miller. He grew up on a farm in the Fort Bent area, attending Fort Bent School and then La Junta Junior High and La Junta High School, graduating in 1968. He then attended Otero Junior College and the University of Northern Colorado, earning a Bachelor of Science and later a master’s degree. He served in the National Guard from 1973 to 1979.

After an earlier marriage, Mike married Janet Girard of Denver in 1982. Janet and Mike were thrilled to welcome son Zachary Dale Miller on October 5, 1988.

Mike taught science classes at La Junta High School for 31 years. When students were studying for difficult anatomy tests, he would sometimes bring in his pre-school age son Zachary and asked him a few questions in front of the class. Having memorized the answers earlier with Mike’s coaching, Zach would show them that anatomy wasn’t that hard, even for a four-year-old.

After retirement from the school district, Mike taught anatomy classes to nursing students at Otero Junior College. Then he worked for the Otero County Health Department as an epidemiologist for southern Colorado until his retirement in 2016. For years he enjoyed grossing out family and friends with details of rabid bats and dogs, dead animals, swabbing for disease, and other topics not for the squeamish.

Even when working full-time at other jobs, Mike’s heart never really left the farm, where he sometimes helped his father and brother. He particularly loved driving a tractor and running the swather cutting hay. He was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2004 and had many chemo treatments, followed by a stem cell transplant in 2019. In 2020, he survived treatment for a brain tumor, making his goal to be able to “drive a tractor for Dave” again. He achieved his goal and drove the tractor for two more years in the summers.

Mike enjoyed his morning coffee at Arkansas Valley Co-op, his weekly meetings with friends for doughnuts, and playing with his adored little granddaughters, Avery and Callie. He loved photography, working with wood, and—while he was still able—getting up at 4:00 a.m. to walk with friends. He and Janet were avid Bronco fans and enjoyed watching and attending games in Denver.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Janet; his son, Zachary (Shanna) Miller of Pueblo; sisters, Cheryl (Ed) Armstrong and Patsy Shouse of Loveland; brother, John David (Polly) Miller of La Junta; two granddaughters, nephew, John Miller of La Junta, and his mother-in-law, Mildred Girard of La Junta.

A celebration of life will be held April 9, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in La Junta with Reverend Dr. M.J. Romano officiating.

In lieu of flowers those wishing to do so may make contributions to the First Presbyterian Church in La Junta or to a charity of choice.

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