Miller, Joshua Robert 1985-2022

MILLER, ANDERSON, VAAGEN, CLUTE, KLINGENSMITH

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 1/2/2023 at 07:44:36

Joshua R Miller
December 16, 1985 ~ December 29, 2022 (age 37)

Joshua Robert Miller, 37, of New Hartford, formerly of Newton, died on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, January 5, 2023, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton. A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Josh’s name to be used for his children (checks to Sarah Miller) may be left at the church the day of the service or at the funeral home.

Josh, the son of Steve and Lynnette (Anderson) Miller, was born on December 16, 1985 in Newton. He grew up in Newton and graduated from Newton High School in 2004. He loved music and was in high school band, choir, and show choir. He had lead roles in musicals and while he attended the University of Iowa he was a member of the University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band. Josh graduated in 2008 with a double major in Journalism and Cinema and Comparative Literature. While at Iowa, Josh met his future wife, Sarah Vaagen, during a 16mm film class. Josh and Sarah fell in love over their shared passion for nature as well as those amazing Josh hugs! They agreed they wanted to live in the country someday.

After Josh graduated, he moved to Newton and then to Urbandale for a few years. In August of 2014, Josh and Sarah moved to Cedar Falls and Josh began working for SciPlay as their Creative Director. On July 24, 2015, Josh and Sarah were united in marriage. The lived in Cedar Falls until they accomplished their dream by purchasing 10 acres of prairie and timber in rural New Hartford, IA. Finishing and moving into their new home in May of 2022. They spent a lot of time this past 6 months just enjoying their property with their girls, Evelyn and Adelaide. Seeing a mama and two baby deer walk through the yard and pheasants run into the prairie were exciting moments for the family. At the same time their house was completed, Josh took a new position working remote with Ink Games out of Austin, Texas.

Everyone remembers Josh for his kindness, enthusiasm, and his hugs. He had a passion for many things and was always happy to be involved. He listened to music nonstop. Recently his playlists always included soundtrack music from his favorite movie Lord of the Rings or background music from his favorite video games. Josh could have listened to Christmas music year round.

Josh was a sports fan as well. In high school he played baseball and tennis. He ran cross country and was on the swim team. As he got older, his sports passions turned to watching. He cheered for the Bears, Cardinals, and the Hawkeyes. The last couple of years, he was able to take Evelyn to I Cubs games and share his love of baseball with his daughter.

People that knew Josh, knew he loved to trout fish. Every fall he went on a trout trip with his uncles, dad, and cousin. Because Josh had the gift of patience, he would study the trout and learn about them in order to change what he was doing to catch one. This patience led to excellence in many areas of his life. He could sit for hours waiting for a hummingbird or tree frog to come into frame and take a photo. Josh was a self-taught artist, who could illustrate with incredible detail and skill. He often shared his skills with his coworkers and helped on multiple projects at a time.

Josh was the kind of dad that was involved in all parts of life with his girls. He was usually the one up at night rocking his babies back to sleep. There was never a time he said no when they asked to play with him. He would stay for as long as they wanted, getting his makeup done, putting on shows, having dance parties, or playing Barbies. His favorite thing to do with his family was to cuddle up and watch a movie. A good cuddle could make his day. When asked what they’d miss most his daughters said daddy’s hugs and Hobbit stories. That sums up Josh pretty well. He shared what he loved in a way that made you love it too. Most of all he loved his family and took care of everyone around him.

Josh loved tradition. He kept an annual apple and cheese trip to Wisconsin going every year and tried to include as many people as possible. His favorite time was fall for two reasons. It started to cool off, and he could start thinking about Christmas. Josh started getting ready for Christmas in October. Christmas music in the car, lights on the house, multiple trees fully decorated. He supported any reason to bring happiness to his family.

Josh’s traditions and love will live on in his wife Sarah Miller of New Hartford; two daughters, Evelyn and Adelaide; his parents, Steve and Lynnette Miller of Newton; maternal grandmother, Martha Anderson of Newton; his siblings, Stephanie Clute of Bondurant and Reid Miller of Newton; and his many loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents; maternal grandfather; an uncle, John Anderson; and a cousin, Ryan Klingensmith.

What we wouldn’t all give for one more Josh hug.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joshua R Miller, please visit our floral store.

Services
VISITATION
Wednesday
January 4, 2023
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory
1115 E. 19th St. N.
Newton, IA 50208-2539
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FUNERAL MASS
Thursday
January 5, 2023
10:30 AM
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
1115 S 8th Ave E
Newton, IA 50208
Send Flowers to Joshua's Funeral Mass
Guaranteed delivery before the Funeral Mass begins ~ The Wallace Family Funeral Home, Newton, Iowa 29 Dec 2022.