Herman J. Miller

Herman J. Miller, 87, of St. Joseph, MI passed away Thursday, November 21, 2013 at Royalton Manor in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 9:30 A.M Saturday, November 23, 2013 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Service, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Rev. Paul Naumann officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Friends may visit from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Friday, November 22, 2013 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Good Shepard Lutheran Church. Those wishing to share a memory of Herman online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Herman was born March 24, 1926 in Defiance, Ohio to Harmon & Vera Miller. He attended St. John’s Lutheran Grade School and Defiance High School. Herman served in Europe during WWII where later he met & married Lena Soemmers in June 6, 1948 in Frankfort Germany. They came to the United States in July of 1948 and lived in Defiance, Ohio and Monroe, MI before moving to Benton Harbor. He worked for J.C. Penny Co., Sears Roebuck, Kaywood Mfg. Co. and Starks & Menchinger Chapel. Herman was a very loving husband, father, grandfather and a proud World War II Vet. He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and frequently attended Berrien County Baptist Church. He was also a member of the Stevensville American Legion, as Commander and Chaplin, and the VFW. Herman also enjoyed coaching Little League Baseball in Benton Harbor, was a Gold Glove Boxer before the war and was an avid Buckeye and Cleveland Indians fan. Herman is survived by two children Wayne (Kathy) Miller of St. Joseph and Deborah (Mike) Gabriel of Benton Harbor; three grandchildren Jacob & Benjamin Miller and Desiree (Goff) Weller; a great grandson Kovy Weller; sister Mrs. Virginia Pardonner of Middleton Ohio. Herman was preceded in death by his wife Lena in 1998, two sisters and his parents.