John Alfred Miller, 94, of Kalona

KALONA ? John Alfred Miller, 94, of Kalona, died Wednesday, April 6, 2011, in the Pleasantview Home in Kalona as a result of declining health.

A celebration of life service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 10, at the Fairview Mennonite Church in rural Kalona with the Rev. Perry Miller and the Rev. Leon Stutzman officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the church. A memorial fund has been established for the Gospel Echoes Prison Ministry and Iowa City Hospice. Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Miller was born Aug. 14, 1916, in Midland, Mich., the son of Dan J.S. and Catherine (Blucker) Miller. He married Effie Marie Swartzendruber on Aug. 14, 1938, at the Fairview Mennonite Church.

He attended Franklin Rural School in Iowa County. He farmed for many years and also worked as a nursing assistant at the VA Hospital in Iowa City for 24 years. He was a member of the Fairview Mennonite Church and the Kalona Koffee Klub. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking and wintering in Florida and Texas. He loved music and enjoyed singing bass in a men?s chorus. Scripture memorization was important to him, and even with other faculties declined he was able to quote Bible verses. He also enjoyed joining in the music when Chaplain David Yoder led Bible study at the Pleasantview Home.

Surviving are his wife; four daughters, Judy Gingrich and husband Eldon of Riverside, Phyllis Bassett and husband Art of Cleveland, Ga., Joy Cuchna and husband Ron of Amana, and Lorna Bender and husband Glendon of Goshen, Ind.; 14 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Vira Hershberger of Harrisonburg, Va.; and two brothers, Howard Miller and wife Margaret of Phoenix, Ariz., and Willard Miller of Nixa, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Richard Miller; one great-granddaughter; two brothers, Fred, and Mervin Miller; and two sisters, Irene Smoker, and Marie Stutzman.