Gerald William Miller

He was born on July 25, 1939 in Sioux City, IA, to Al and Zona (Gardner) Miller. He grew up in Minneapolis where he graduated from Southwest High School in 1957 and from the University of Minnesota in 1964.

He met the love of his life, Diane Ness, on a brief visit to Texas, but then again in Minneapolis. They married in 1963. Together they moved with their first daughter Michelle (Shelli) to Colorado and never left. Colorado was their home. Jerry worked for Bostich at the time, but very soon after went to work for 3M Company. He was the consummate salesman in many different roles and departments with 3M for over 40 years. He loved being in sales and all the friendships and relationships it brought him. Jerry had an engaging smile, friendly handshake and dry sense of humor that made him instant friends with whoever he met.

After arriving in Colorado in 1969, the family grew. Their daughter Kayte joined the family, then their son Andy. The job took the family to Alabama for a brief time, but Colorado became home. The family returned to Colorado in 1973 where their son Michael was born. Together, Jerry and Diane made family their priority. They were intentional about raising a close-knit family of faith who loved each other and loved spending time with each other. That’s exactly what they did. They have 4 children, 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren who truly love to be together as a family.

Jerry loved the Colorado lifestyle and outdoor sports. He was an avid golfer, runner, skier and cyclist. He did his best to pass that passion on to his kids. He participated in the first Ride the Rockies 5-day Bike Tour along with his wife and 2 sons. They went on to do many more of these challenging mountain-pass rides through the years. He taught all of his kids to ski and to love skiing (well, mostly–if it’s not too cold) which has been passed down 3 generations. He enjoyed many years with his sons in the alpine racing program at Winter Park. He began our 30-year tradition of family runs at the Turkey Trot and a few Bolder Boulders too. He and Diane enjoyed challenging one another on the golf course, as well as exploring interesting courses around the country. Playing with the guys was the highlight of his week for many years. He shot a hole in one at The Sanctuary the day his 3M friends surprised him with golf there for his retirement. Jerry and Diane loved to travel. They shared adventures together around the world to Europe, China, Patagonia, Machu Picchu - and beyond.

Jerry was a deeply wise and faithful man. These were gifts that his mother Zona gave to him. He loved Jesus and the Gospel, and he was consistent and faithful to share that faith in all aspects of his life. He set a firm foundation in the family, that we put faith first. He and Diane lovingly fulfilled the promises that they’d made at their children’s baptism, raising them with the same faith. And he did this by modeling it every day of his life. He was kind. A friend to all. Gave wise counsel. At the center of his heart was service. He was a leader and mentor in his community and church, teaching Sunday School, serving as an Elder, and serving in outside ministries as well. Jerry’s heart led him to serve on a work weekend at Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp in 1973 and he fell in love with the ministry there. The family has returned every summer since then. A legacy of faith that’s grown into 4 generations. He was a fervent supporter of Lutheran Family Services (LFS), the youth group at his church, and Brent’s Place–a long-term home-away-from-home for families receiving treatment at local hospitals for life-threatening illnesses. He quietly volunteered there every Monday for many years. He was a humble servant.

The highlight of his life was his deep love for his wife of 63 years, Diane, and the family they built together. Jerry and Diane are best friends. They placed each other above all else. Besides golf, their travels, their church and their friends, the thing that brought Jerry the most joy in life was time with family. Family camp, weekends in the mountains (in clutter boots), doing his favorite outdoor sports together, or just our family gatherings at the house. “Miller Time.” In his last season of life and during his long battle with ALS, family gatherings, whether small or large, were his joy and lifeline. Toward the end, when speech was hard, he wasn’t able to take a big part in conversations, but if you’ve been to a Miller family gathering, you know you never could get a word in edgewise even if you tried.

Our Dad/Papa will live on in us in the deep and meaningful foundations he set, but also in the threat (now handed down generations) that ‘there’s work to be done!’ (Softened by wheelbarrow rides home from the “free” dumpster). And if you didn’t do it right you were boldly reminded ‘That’s a half-job’. He taught us to be thrifty (tight). While we may have had to split a happy meal 4 ways, he put all 4 of us through college. He tore a hole in the bedroom carpet practicing his golf swing. Being on time was not a concept he was totally familiar with…his offspring are divided on that. We’ll always imagine him with a cup of 7-11 or McDonalds coffee–no Starbucks for him. He whistled in the store and loved to wear outlandish outfits to embarrass us. There were many memorable one-handed drives up Berthoud pass in the snow while eating cold toast and apple wedges, turning around to quiet the backseat or give a “horse bite”. He loved a good lime green shirt. A new car with white wall tires. His yellow pad to-do lists including which kid to ‘talk’ to. A new putter, dogs, one cold beer at night and ice cream with chocolate on top.

Jerry loved life, and thanks completely to the devoted and loving care given by Diane, with every minute of every day at home together, he squeezed out every drop of it. Her total commitment to the quality of his life was unwavering, selfless, and the ultimate example to our whole family of deep devotion and love. He will be terribly missed, but we know with certainty he is with his Savior. Free.

Jerry is survived by his wife Diane, children Michelle (Dave) Okes, Kayte Loken, Andy, and Michael (Angie), grandchildren Corey (Katie), Britta (Taylor) Carlisle, Jordan (Courtney), Ava, Annie, Eden, Grayson, Sam, EverLee, Claire, Abbie, Carly and Beck, and great-grandchildren Amelia, Wyatt, Wilder, Solvei and Raine. His brother David (Kathie), Brother-in-law Tom (Linda) Ness, many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A service to honor and celebrate Jerry’s life will be held at Our Father Lutheran Church, 6335 S Holly St, Centennial, CO 80121 on Friday, August 28th. 10:00 am visitation, 11:00 service, light lunch to follow. Interment service for committal, following lunch at the church, will take place at nearby Olinger, Chapel Hill Cemetery. Friends and family are most welcome to join us there.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp, ALS Association, or Brent’s Place.

Funeral Live Stream and recording:

https://boxcast.tv/view/jerry-miller-memorial-vpi81viwzih0cwil81b1?_gl=1*b5cb4q*_gcl_au*MjAyOTk4ODgwNi4xNzg3MjM3MjYx*_ga*NjQ3MDgwNjEzLjE3MzIwNTA2NjI.*_ga_PXBBF7HVWQ*czE3ODc3NTU1ODEkbzg1NCRnMSR0MTc4Nzc1NTY2MiRqNTIkbDAkaDA