Larry Gerald Miller, 73 of Murray, passed away on October 23, 2013 at his home. He was born on March 6, 1940, on the same farm, eight miles north of Murray, Iowa, on which he has resided for the last 24 years, and was the eighth of nine children to Percy Henry and Edna Marie (Luce) Miller.
His early education took place at Brush College, a one-room school house in Madison Township, and he graduated from the Murray Community School in 1958. Shortly thereafter he went to mechanic's school in Kansas City, Missouri. Following trade school he worked in Clinton, Iowa as a mechanic installing accessories in new vehicles. Following that he worked at Schwerman's in Des Moines, Iowa as a mechanic.
In 1963 he was drafted into the United States Army, in which he served for two years, stationed at Schofield Barracks, on the Big Island of Hawaii. He was in the 2nd Battalion 14th infantry "the Golden Dragon Infantry", The Right Side of the Line. After his family, his time in the army was his favorite time in life.
After returning from the service he helped on the family farm, worked for Bud Wilders Truck repair, and then eventually went to work at Champlin's Truck Stop and Restaurant in Osceola. During his employment there he met the love of his life Jan DeLong. After dating a few short months they wed on December 17, 1967. On November 2, 1968 Larry and Jan welcomed their first son James into the world to begin their family. Following shortly afterwards was Wanda on October 2, 1969. Troy arrived on January 18, 1974 to finish out the family. While the children were young Larry worked at Simco and continued to farm on his own farm and with his little brother Bernie.
Larry and Jan introduced brother Bernie to Jan's younger sister Sharon; they also wed and the 2 couples began farming together. In the 1980's the farming crisis hit and the 2 families struggled to make a living. In the fall of 1982 they began to build Miller Time Tap which they completed and opened in January of 1983. Larry was a born bartender and enjoyed telling stories and talking about all his life adventures with many customers.
Larry ran Miller Time Tap with Jan until the time they retired on February 1, 1999. They also started taking vacations in the summer of 1986 and continued every year until Larry became ill after his aneurysm repair surgery in May 18, 2011. He loved bartending so much that he worked part time at the Truro Bar after retirement for a few years.
Larry loved to travel with Jan, especially to the Rocky Mountains. On occasion different family members and friends would join their travels. Pee Wee, the feisty little rat terrier, also accompanied them on many a trip riding in the topper of the truck and sticking his head through the sliding rear window. He didn't like to stop and ask directions so there was at least once every vacation that they were lost and usually it was more than once.
Larry's pride and joy was his family. He loved teaching his grandsons how to play poker and didn't let them know he liked to cheat. Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday and he liked to help Jan fix the yearly meal, or at least tell her how to do it. He really enjoyed visits from the various nieces and nephews from around the countryside. He reminisced endlessly with his extended family and never tired of telling stories of his youth, siblings, and army days.
During the last couple of years of his life, Larry was plagued with illness and never quite recovered from his major surgery. His wife and children cared for Larry during his failing health and enjoyed the time they spent with him. Thankfully he passed peacefully in his sleep.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Opal, Arlene, Roberta and Juanita; brothers Leo, Donald and Bernard. He is survived by his wife, Jan; son Jim and partner Gregg Hackney of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; daughter Wanda and husband Greg Draper of Leon, Iowa; and son Troy and wife Robin of Murray, Iowa; eight grandsons, Kyle, Devin, Braden and Levi Draper and Brent, Tony, Dustin and Caleb Miller; sister, Twyla Brown of St. James, Missouri; sister-in-law Sharon Miller of Murray; and sister-in-law, Lucille Miller of Sanger, California; many many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends.
His early education took place at Brush College, a one-room school house in Madison Township, and he graduated from the Murray Community School in 1958. Shortly thereafter he went to mechanic's school in Kansas City, Missouri. Following trade school he worked in Clinton, Iowa as a mechanic installing accessories in new vehicles. Following that he worked at Schwerman's in Des Moines, Iowa as a mechanic.
In 1963 he was drafted into the United States Army, in which he served for two years, stationed at Schofield Barracks, on the Big Island of Hawaii. He was in the 2nd Battalion 14th infantry "the Golden Dragon Infantry", The Right Side of the Line. After his family, his time in the army was his favorite time in life.
After returning from the service he helped on the family farm, worked for Bud Wilders Truck repair, and then eventually went to work at Champlin's Truck Stop and Restaurant in Osceola. During his employment there he met the love of his life Jan DeLong. After dating a few short months they wed on December 17, 1967. On November 2, 1968 Larry and Jan welcomed their first son James into the world to begin their family. Following shortly afterwards was Wanda on October 2, 1969. Troy arrived on January 18, 1974 to finish out the family. While the children were young Larry worked at Simco and continued to farm on his own farm and with his little brother Bernie.
Larry and Jan introduced brother Bernie to Jan's younger sister Sharon; they also wed and the 2 couples began farming together. In the 1980's the farming crisis hit and the 2 families struggled to make a living. In the fall of 1982 they began to build Miller Time Tap which they completed and opened in January of 1983. Larry was a born bartender and enjoyed telling stories and talking about all his life adventures with many customers.
Larry ran Miller Time Tap with Jan until the time they retired on February 1, 1999. They also started taking vacations in the summer of 1986 and continued every year until Larry became ill after his aneurysm repair surgery in May 18, 2011. He loved bartending so much that he worked part time at the Truro Bar after retirement for a few years.
Larry loved to travel with Jan, especially to the Rocky Mountains. On occasion different family members and friends would join their travels. Pee Wee, the feisty little rat terrier, also accompanied them on many a trip riding in the topper of the truck and sticking his head through the sliding rear window. He didn't like to stop and ask directions so there was at least once every vacation that they were lost and usually it was more than once.
Larry's pride and joy was his family. He loved teaching his grandsons how to play poker and didn't let them know he liked to cheat. Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday and he liked to help Jan fix the yearly meal, or at least tell her how to do it. He really enjoyed visits from the various nieces and nephews from around the countryside. He reminisced endlessly with his extended family and never tired of telling stories of his youth, siblings, and army days.
During the last couple of years of his life, Larry was plagued with illness and never quite recovered from his major surgery. His wife and children cared for Larry during his failing health and enjoyed the time they spent with him. Thankfully he passed peacefully in his sleep.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Opal, Arlene, Roberta and Juanita; brothers Leo, Donald and Bernard. He is survived by his wife, Jan; son Jim and partner Gregg Hackney of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; daughter Wanda and husband Greg Draper of Leon, Iowa; and son Troy and wife Robin of Murray, Iowa; eight grandsons, Kyle, Devin, Braden and Levi Draper and Brent, Tony, Dustin and Caleb Miller; sister, Twyla Brown of St. James, Missouri; sister-in-law Sharon Miller of Murray; and sister-in-law, Lucille Miller of Sanger, California; many many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends.
Larry Gerald Miller, 73 of Murray, passed away on October 23, 2013 at his home. He was born on March 6, 1940, on the same farm, eight miles north of Murray, Iowa, on which he has resided for the last 24 years, and was the eighth of nine children to Percy Henry and Edna Marie (Luce) Miller.
His early education took place at Brush College, a one-room school house in Madison Township, and he graduated from the Murray Community School in 1958. Shortly thereafter he went to mechanic's school in Kansas City, Missouri. Following trade school he worked in Clinton, Iowa as a mechanic installing accessories in new vehicles. Following that he worked at Schwerman's in Des Moines, Iowa as a mechanic.
In 1963 he was drafted into the United States Army, in which he served for two years, stationed at Schofield Barracks, on the Big Island of Hawaii. He was in the 2nd Battalion 14th infantry "the Golden Dragon Infantry", The Right Side of the Line. After his family, his time in the army was his favorite time in life.
After returning from the service he helped on the family farm, worked for Bud Wilders Truck repair, and then eventually went to work at Champlin's Truck Stop and Restaurant in Osceola. During his employment there he met the love of his life Jan DeLong. After dating a few short months they wed on December 17, 1967. On November 2, 1968 Larry and Jan welcomed their first son James into the world to begin their family. Following shortly afterwards was Wanda on October 2, 1969. Troy arrived on January 18, 1974 to finish out the family. While the children were young Larry worked at Simco and continued to farm on his own farm and with his little brother Bernie.
Larry and Jan introduced brother Bernie to Jan's younger sister Sharon; they also wed and the 2 couples began farming together. In the 1980's the farming crisis hit and the 2 families struggled to make a living. In the fall of 1982 they began to build Miller Time Tap which they completed and opened in January of 1983. Larry was a born bartender and enjoyed telling stories and talking about all his life adventures with many customers.
Larry ran Miller Time Tap with Jan until the time they retired on February 1, 1999. They also started taking vacations in the summer of 1986 and continued every year until Larry became ill after his aneurysm repair surgery in May 18, 2011. He loved bartending so much that he worked part time at the Truro Bar after retirement for a few years.
Larry loved to travel with Jan, especially to the Rocky Mountains. On occasion different family members and friends would join their travels. Pee Wee, the feisty little rat terrier, also accompanied them on many a trip riding in the topper of the truck and sticking his head through the sliding rear window. He didn't like to stop and ask directions so there was at least once every vacation that they were lost and usually it was more than once.
Larry's pride and joy was his family. He loved teaching his grandsons how to play poker and didn't let them know he liked to cheat. Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday and he liked to help Jan fix the yearly meal, or at least tell her how to do it. He really enjoyed visits from the various nieces and nephews from around the countryside. He reminisced endlessly with his extended family and never tired of telling stories of his youth, siblings, and army days.
During the last couple of years of his life, Larry was plagued with illness and never quite recovered from his major surgery. His wife and children cared for Larry during his failing health and enjoyed the time they spent with him. Thankfully he passed peacefully in his sleep.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Opal, Arlene, Roberta and Juanita; brothers Leo, Donald and Bernard. He is survived by his wife, Jan; son Jim and partner Gregg Hackney of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; daughter Wanda and husband Greg Draper of Leon, Iowa; and son Troy and wife Robin of Murray, Iowa; eight grandsons, Kyle, Devin, Braden and Levi Draper and Brent, Tony, Dustin and Caleb Miller; sister, Twyla Brown of St. James, Missouri; sister-in-law Sharon Miller of Murray; and sister-in-law, Lucille Miller of Sanger, California; many many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends.
His early education took place at Brush College, a one-room school house in Madison Township, and he graduated from the Murray Community School in 1958. Shortly thereafter he went to mechanic's school in Kansas City, Missouri. Following trade school he worked in Clinton, Iowa as a mechanic installing accessories in new vehicles. Following that he worked at Schwerman's in Des Moines, Iowa as a mechanic.
In 1963 he was drafted into the United States Army, in which he served for two years, stationed at Schofield Barracks, on the Big Island of Hawaii. He was in the 2nd Battalion 14th infantry "the Golden Dragon Infantry", The Right Side of the Line. After his family, his time in the army was his favorite time in life.
After returning from the service he helped on the family farm, worked for Bud Wilders Truck repair, and then eventually went to work at Champlin's Truck Stop and Restaurant in Osceola. During his employment there he met the love of his life Jan DeLong. After dating a few short months they wed on December 17, 1967. On November 2, 1968 Larry and Jan welcomed their first son James into the world to begin their family. Following shortly afterwards was Wanda on October 2, 1969. Troy arrived on January 18, 1974 to finish out the family. While the children were young Larry worked at Simco and continued to farm on his own farm and with his little brother Bernie.
Larry and Jan introduced brother Bernie to Jan's younger sister Sharon; they also wed and the 2 couples began farming together. In the 1980's the farming crisis hit and the 2 families struggled to make a living. In the fall of 1982 they began to build Miller Time Tap which they completed and opened in January of 1983. Larry was a born bartender and enjoyed telling stories and talking about all his life adventures with many customers.
Larry ran Miller Time Tap with Jan until the time they retired on February 1, 1999. They also started taking vacations in the summer of 1986 and continued every year until Larry became ill after his aneurysm repair surgery in May 18, 2011. He loved bartending so much that he worked part time at the Truro Bar after retirement for a few years.
Larry loved to travel with Jan, especially to the Rocky Mountains. On occasion different family members and friends would join their travels. Pee Wee, the feisty little rat terrier, also accompanied them on many a trip riding in the topper of the truck and sticking his head through the sliding rear window. He didn't like to stop and ask directions so there was at least once every vacation that they were lost and usually it was more than once.
Larry's pride and joy was his family. He loved teaching his grandsons how to play poker and didn't let them know he liked to cheat. Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday and he liked to help Jan fix the yearly meal, or at least tell her how to do it. He really enjoyed visits from the various nieces and nephews from around the countryside. He reminisced endlessly with his extended family and never tired of telling stories of his youth, siblings, and army days.
During the last couple of years of his life, Larry was plagued with illness and never quite recovered from his major surgery. His wife and children cared for Larry during his failing health and enjoyed the time they spent with him. Thankfully he passed peacefully in his sleep.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Opal, Arlene, Roberta and Juanita; brothers Leo, Donald and Bernard. He is survived by his wife, Jan; son Jim and partner Gregg Hackney of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; daughter Wanda and husband Greg Draper of Leon, Iowa; and son Troy and wife Robin of Murray, Iowa; eight grandsons, Kyle, Devin, Braden and Levi Draper and Brent, Tony, Dustin and Caleb Miller; sister, Twyla Brown of St. James, Missouri; sister-in-law Sharon Miller of Murray; and sister-in-law, Lucille Miller of Sanger, California; many many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends.
Gravesite Details
Cenotaph. His ashes will be scattered on the family farm at a future date.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
