Rev. J. Heber Miller Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Jacob Heber Miller, the son of William Jacob Miller and Alta Mae (Baker) Miller, was born on January 24th, 1916 in rural Beaver County, Oklahoma and departed this life on Friday, March 21st, 2014 at the Ruthven Community Care Center at the age of 98 years. He grew up in the Panhandle of Oklahoma with five brothers and three sisters: Alfred, Ted, Bob, George, Norman, Betty, Eva and Mary Ellen. He lived with Ezra (Pop) and Eva (Mom) Evans during his high school years as he continued his education. While in college at Southwestern in Winfield, Kansas he met Virginia Ruth Phillips. It was in the college president's home that they were married on December 10th, 1939. After college Heber attended Garret Biblical Institute where he received his Bachelor of Divinity degree. While in seminary he served a student appointment in McHenry, Illinois. Upon graduation and ordination he was appointed to Graettinger, Iowa. Heber later served throughout Iowa under appointment in Belmond, Manchester, Sheldon, Rock Rapids, Creston, Rockwell City, and even after retirement served in Arnold's Park, Excelsior and Spirit Lake. Heber and Virginia had two daughters, Judy Kitterman Miller of Sioux City, Iowa and Linda Miller Wittstruck, married to Thorne Wittstruck of Spencer, Iowa. In 1961 Atsuko Kitigawa of Japan joined the family for a year through AFS and became a true daughter. Heber and Virginia had six grandchildren, Cindy Kumsher and husband Paul of Britt, Iowa; Libby Myer and husband Cory of Buffalo Center, Iowa; Sarah Stevens and husband Dean of Sioux City, Iowa; Chris Wittstruck of Spencer, Iowa; Heather Wittstruck Egtvedt and husband Paul of Edina, Minnesota; Naomi Sea Young Wittstruck of Des Moines, Iowa. In addition they shared seven great grandchildren, Ana, Rachel, Max, Zach, Naddie, Alayna and Bjorn. Heber and Virginia were partners in marriage and life for sixty eight years and shared their love joyfully with their family and all they met. Heber's ministry left an indelible mark wherever he went. In particular he had a passion for children and youth, known for his junior sermons and spent many summers working and directing at the United Methodist Camps in Clear Lake and Okoboji, Iowa. Besides ministry, Heber had many hobbies, many which reflected his true love of nature. He enjoyed rock hunting; feeding, housing, identifying birds, even carving their likenesses; vegetable and flower gardening; fishing throughout the seasons; wood working; traveling; helping with Virginia's quilt making and drawing. Heber taught us all to love, to see beauty, to value truth and to serve others here and around the world. He modeled a truly gracious way of living, sharing his simple gratitude, even in times of pain or distress. He died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, song and prayer. Heber was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Alfred, Ted, Bob, and Norman Miller and Atsuko Kitigawa, his Japanese daughter. A funeral service will be held at 11:00A.M. Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation will be held Monday, from 6:00P.M. until 8:00P.M. at the Schuchert Funeral Home. Burial will be at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery.

Rev. J. Heber Miller

January 24, 1916 - March 21, 2014