Jonathan M. Miller

Jonathan M. Miller
September 01, 1909 - July 07, 2008
Kalona, Iowa
Visitation: 2-5 & 6-8 p.m. July 09, 2008 at Sharon Bethel Church, Kalona, Iowa
Funeral Service: 9:30 a.m. July 10, 2007 at Sharon Bethel Church, Kalona, Iowa
Interment: July 10, 2008 at North Gingerich Cemetery, rural Kalona, Iowa
Jonathan M. Miller, was born September 1, 1909 in Thomas, Oklahoma, the son of Moses F. and Fannie (Nisley) Miller. On January 2, 1936 he married Anna D. Gingerich. They were blessed with nine children. The family lived at Kalona, Iowa, where Jonathan was a farmer and a minister of the Amish Mennonite Church. He was ordained on October 24, 1937 and became Bishop on April 30, 1939. Ten years after Anna's death, Jonathan married Emma Bontrager Stutzman in 1989. After her death in 1992, Jonathan enjoyed traveling to his children's homes and staying with them for weeks at a time. He spent the last two years in the home of Daniel and Katie Miller in Leon. Jonathan did craft work making dog houses and bug boxes. He enjoyed making them and selling them to support himself up until he was 90 years old. He died at his home in Leon, Iowa on Monday, July 7, 2008, at the age of 98 years. Survivors include his children: Daniel & Katie Miller of Leon; Ada & Calvin Miller of Lott, Texas; Martha & Ivan Yutzy of Linneus, Missouri; Barbara Helmuth of Kalona, Iowa; Fannie & Alvin Miller of Crossville, Tennessee; Edith & Howard Kuhns of Arcola, Illinois; Anne & Robert Williamson of Hanover Park, Illinois; and Ruth & Eldon Kuhns of Mulkeytown, Illinois; son-in-law Henry Beachy of Geneva, Indiana; 50 grandchildren; 60 great grandchildren; stepchildren: Glen & Verda Stutzman of Kentucky; Enos Stutzman of Indiana; Laura & Truman Schrock of Oklahoma; and Viola Stutzman of Kentucky; 16 step grandchildren; 36 step great grandchildren; brother Joe M. Miller of Kalona; foster sister Bertha Bontrager of Virginia; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends. Preceding him in death were his wives, Anna in 1979 and Emma in 1992; daughter Arvilla Beachy; brothers Noah, Neil and John; and sister Elizabeth. Celebration of Life Service will be held 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2008, at the Sharon Bethel Church in Kalona. Rev. Delmar Bontrager and Rev. Jacob Yoder will officiate. Burial will be in the North Gingerich Cemetery, rural Kalona. Visitation will be on Wednesday, from 2-5 and 6-8 p.m. at the Sharon Bethel Church. A general memorial fund has been established. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.