R. Dean Miller

R. Dean "Cob" Miller was born July 20, 1931 in Wellman, Iowa the son of Melvin and Marjorie (Blumenstein) Miller. He graduated from Wellman High School in 1948. He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War from 1950-1954. On April 15, 1956 he was united in marriage to Patty Jo Newman at the Brethren Church in South English, Iowa. Dean worked for Maplecrest, Yoder Feeds and Trio Gas where he worked for over 30 years and owned the business for several of those years until his retirement in 1997. Dean was a member of the First Baptist Church in Wellman and a member of the American Legion. Dean also known by his family as "Pa" enjoyed the outdoors. Summers would find him fishing and tending to his large garden. He loved to harvest and share his garden produce and host his annual fish fry with his family and friends. Pa spent the winter months ice fishing, deer hunting and cracking hickory nuts and walnuts. Pa's true passion, however, were his grandchildren. Following their many activities brought him much enjoyment as he was their biggest supporter and fan. Dean died on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa at the age of 83 years.

Dean is survived by his five children and their families. Jeffrey D. Miller (Teresa Crosser) of Riverside; Julie D. Gingerich (Lee) of Wellman; Joni D. Yoder (John H.) of Wellman; James D. "Jake" Miller (Mindy) of Washington; Jill D. Kinnaird (Curt) of Tiffin, nine grandchildren; Amber Kempf (Kelsey Price) of Wellman, Cole Kempf (Angela Yoder) of Kalona, Shane Durian (Damaris Garcia) of Coralville, Spencer Miller of North Liberty, Austin Yoder (Marissa Kauffman) of Fort Collins, CO, Kaitlyn Merck (Ryan) of Wellman, Jami Miller (Andy Kucera) of Riverside, Lexi and Abbi Kinnaird of Tiffin. Five great grandchildren; Hunter, Drake and Zion Price of Wellman, Bella Durian of Coralville and Bristol Kucera of Riverside; a sister; Sharleen Freel of Kalona, a brother William "Bill" Miller (Karyl) of Washington; five sisters-in-law; E. Rae Culp (Jerry) of Meza, AZ, Maggie Barkdoll (Don) of Phoeniz, AZ, Dixie Knipfer (Glenn) of North English, Georgia Jones (Loren) of McGregor and Terri Killian of St. Louis, MO. Two brothers-in-law; James Newman, of Mt. Vernon and Tim Newman (Kathy) of North English, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Patty in January 2012, his mother and father-in-law, James and Margaret Newman, two brothers: E. Duane Miller and Donald L. Miller, a brother-in-law Wesley Freel, three sisters-in-law; JoAnn Miller, Carolyn Newman and Jacqueline Naze.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM Thursday, January 15, 2015 at the First Baptist Church in Wellman with Pastor Mark Larson officiating. Burial will be in the Wellman Cemetery with military rites by the Charles Polton American Legion Post #427. Visitation will be held from 2-7 PM on Wednesday at the Powell Funeral Home in Wellman where the family will greet friends from 2-4 and 5-7 PM. A memorial fund has been established for Wellman Ambulance and Goodwin Senior Center.