Mr. Arnold Alfred Miller

Arnold Alfred Miller of the Town of Warren, Waushara County passed away peacefully at the only home he ever new, surrounded by his family on the Lord’s Day, Sunday, May 18th. He was born on November 29. 1918 in Berlin, WI to Alfred and Minnie (Berndt) Miller and was a member of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Fairburn, WI. Arnold graduated from Berlin High with the class of 1937 and worked the 220 acre family dairy farm. On August 22, 1940 he married Margaret Alice Sheahan at St. Mary’s Parsonage in Dubuque, Iowa. After marriage Arnold and Margaret made their home on the family farm in the Town of Warren in Waushara County. Arnold was extremely proud when the Miller farm was recognized as a Century Farm in 1991. Arnold worked the farm until 1967 when he became employed with the Redgranite Lumber Yard and Waushara Home Builders in Poy Sippi until his retirement in 1983. Arnold was proud to be a John Deere man. He was proud of his collection of John Deere tractors- John Deere 50, John Deere H and John Deere B. He was also an accomplished woodworker. He spent hours in his woodshop where he made beautiful pieces of furniture, picture frames, flower planters and countless birdhouses for his beloved birds. He blessed over 70 family members and friends with wooden crosses he skillfully made in his workshop. He taught others to use his tools and for that they will be eternally grateful. After years of farming the land, Arnold enjoyed turning his green thumb to gardening. His garden boasted his beautiful zinnias and vegetables while his pumpkins and Indian corn were planted elsewhere in readiness of the “Farm Harvest Parties”. While others were bothered by the constant lawn mowing in summertime, Arnold always enjoyed the hours he’d sit on his John Deere riding lawn mower, helping to make “The Farm” a beautiful place for all to visit. Although Arnold’s enjoyment of the outdoors was extremely limited in the last few years, he enjoyed watching the dozens of birds who faithfully visited his homemade bird feeders each day. He kept his bird book close by so he could identify each new visitor. Each morning he would faithfully have his “morning cup of coffee and cookie” in his favorite chair and patiently wait for his feathered friends to pay a visit. It pleased him so that he was able to see the arrival of the orioles and hummingbirds this spring. Other favorites of Arnold’s were the arrival of his daily newspaper and the mail; he always enjoyed the cards and letters that arrived. Afternoons would find him enjoying his TV western favorites, Gunsmoke, Bonanza and Big Valley. Arnold enjoyed playing cribbage and other card games with the young and not so young members of his family. In his final days, he was able to play his last cribbage games with a great-grandson and a grandson and closeout his cribbage days as a winner! From his rocker he dispensed valuable farm advice and on rare occasions, he was able to visit his John Deere tractors and give tips on keeping them in tip top shape. He loved to talk farming with anyone who loved the land as he did. His memory was sharp and his stories were priceless. Although he was happy for all “The Farm” visitors, he especially welcomed visits from his children, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was happy to start his John Deere, while grandchildren and great-grandchildren anxiously awaited their turn to sit on his lap to help steer the tractor for the family hayrides. In recent years, no longer able to drive his John Deere, he found contentment and joy in watching others take his place on his John Deere when the family clan filled the hay wagon to enjoy yet another trip around “The Farm”. No hayride was ever complete without a stop to throw stones in the farm creek. Arnold was a patient man, a humble man and a faith-filled man. He was a wise man as well , for he always put his work aside when the grandchildren and great-grandchildren visited the farm. Grandpa always found time for a card game, tractor ride, fishing trip or a trip to the dump (followed by a treat stop). Arnold and his wife Margaret, were richly blessed with 73 years of marriage. They worked side by side to make “The Farm” a warm and loving home for their family. They showered their three children with abundant love and then multiplied that love for their 10 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Arnold’s family is grateful to him for the sacrifices he made to preserve the beloved “Farm” for four generations so his family could treasure and enjoy the land he loved. Whether he was called Arnold or dad—Grandpa or Poppa---Big G, Big Papa, Great Grandpa or Uncle Arnnie … he was dearly loved by his family and will remain in their hearts forever. He is survived by his wife of seventy three years, Margaret; three children, Arnold D. (Margaret) Miller of Waupaca, Daniel (Judith) Miller of Neenah, and Nancy (Bill) Jodarski of Appleton. Ten grandchildren; Deanna (Brad) Gregorius of Neenah, Tess (Dan) Lenz of Neenah, Daniel (Melissa) Miller of Neenah, Steve Miller of Neenah, Lisa (Chad) Brock of Hilliard, FL, Christine (Ben) Nixdorf of Chicago, IL, Brad (Amy) Jodarski of Oshkosh, Billie Jo (Chad) Hunstiger of Appleton, Dr. Melissa (Kyle) Stoffel of Kronenwetter, and Ashley (Chris) Panici of Appleton. Twenty two great-grandchildren; Taylor, Hannah and Hayley Johnson, Thad Kraus, Cody & Tanner Lenz, Landan & Laynee Miller, Sammy and Hazel Nixdorf, Evan, Trevor and Trenton Brock, Parker, Cade and Granger Hunstiger, Davin, Treve and Pacyn Stoffel, Braelee and Rhett Jodarski and Ryker Panici. Also survived by many special nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; Alfred and Minnie Miller, sister-in-laws; Dorothy (Sheahan) Sobieski, Annabelle (Sheahan) Nighbor, Alice (Booth) Sheahan, brother-in-laws; Thomas Sobieski, Roman Nighbor, Carl Kwidzinski, and Louis Sheahan, special niece and nephew; Diane and Robert Sobieski. Visitation with family and friends will be held on Wednesday, May 21, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Wiecki-Skipchak Funeral Home of Berlin and also on Thursday, May 22 at the Funeral Home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at 11:00 a.m. Services will be officiated by Pastor Gregory Sluke. Burial will follow at St. Marks Catholic Cemetery of Redgranite. After the service at the cemetery, Family and friends are invited to come to the “Miller Farm” for a luncheon and to share memories and fellowship. A memorial has been established in his memory by the family.

Mr. Arnold Alfred Miller

November 29, 1918 - May 18, 2014