Gerald H. "Jerry" Miller 1937-2012

MILLER NELSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/29/2012 at 20:04:56

Sioux City Journal
April 22, 2012

SIOUX CITY -- Gerald H. "Jerry" Miller, formerly of Sioux City, had an appointment with his Lord and Master on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, at 5:44 p.m. with his family at his bed side in Indianapolis, Ind. after a three-month battle with colon cancer.

A Requiem Mass was celebrated Saturday, April 14, at St. Jude Catholic Church in Indianapolis. His cremains to be laid to rest at a later date.

Jerry was the first born of six to follow to his parents, John and Dorothy (Nelson) Miller of Sioux City on Feb. 3, 1937. In his formative years, he attended St. Boniface Grade School, then Bishop Heelan Catholic High School, graduating in 1956. From there, he went right into the workplace, learning the nuts and bolts of the trucking business through the back door, so to speak, with Fruehauf Trailer.

He then settled down to a young married life with his first love, Laura Ann. She was the mother of his three beautiful and precious daughters, whom he adored, Katrina, Kathleen and his youngest, Elizabeth Ann "Libby," who met with an untimely death in 1984 at the tender age of 17.

In the early 1970s, he transferred to the greater Denver, Colo. area with his family, where he eventually started his own business Denver Semi-Parts Inc. In time he was awarded the Great Dane Distributorship, which was quite an honor for him. He was the epitome of capitalism at its best, working from the bottom up in this free enterprise system he embraced.

He lived and loved the Colorado Rockies and was a great outdoorsman and avid fisherman, especially finding those cool, crisp mountain streams oozing with trout so he could reap the rewards for family and friends. He also became a connoisseur of collecting the big cars of Buicks and Cadillacs especially loving his 1965 Cadillac DeVille convertible.

In later years, he met and wed the love of his life "Maggie May" and settled in Indianapolis on the Banks of the Wabash, far away.

Those left to endure his absence are his wife, Margaret; his girls, Katrina Hartley and Kathy (Skip) Hatter; stepchildren, Chanel, Stan and Nancy Finzen; grandchildren, Nicole (Phil) Boyer, Cole Hartley, Jessica Hatter, Kayla Finzen, Alexandria Kline, Madison Finzen; great-grandchildren, Trace and Toby Boyer; his only sister, Madonna (Richard) Miller-Lueck, whom he cherished, and who will miss his phone calls and his infectious laugh; brothers, Richard (DeAnne), Robert (Judi), Michael (Sherry) and Steve; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Elizabeth Ann "Libby;" his grandson, Shane Hatter; a son-in-law, Lonnie Hartley; his younger brother, Daniel; and his mom and dad.

He was such a gentle, soft-spoken man, never having a harsh word for anyone. He will be sorely missed.

Requiescat in pace, Jerry, until we meet again.