Cecil E. Miller was born Sept. 15, 1924, in Kalona, Iowa, the son of Ben M. and Cora (Miller) Miller. He lived in Kalona his entire life. On Sept. 24, 1945, Cecil was united in marriage to Verda Hershberger at the Fairview Mennonite Church.
Cecil co-owned the Washington Co. Case Farm Store for 37½ years and after selling the store he continued to work for the new owners and later worked at Pyramids in Iowa City. Cecil retired in 2005.
He was a member of Sunnyside Mennonite Church. Cecil was a kind, caring, compassionate man and had a good sense of humor. He enjoyed the Hawkeyes, Cubs, gardening, playing football with his sisters, playing golf (aka mowing the yard) and spending time with his family.
Cecil passed away Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, at Pleasantview Home in Kalona at the age of 96 years.
Cecil is survived by three sons: Galen Miller of Virginia Beach, Va., Del (Patty) Miller of Iowa City and Kerwin (Amy) Miller of St. Charles, Ill.; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two sisters: Grace Miller of Kalona and Marjorie Roth of Jewelsburg, Colo. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife: Verda; grandson: Shane Miller; and two sisters: Alta Swartzendruber, and Ila Swartzendruber.
A private celebration of life graveside service will be Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, at Fairview Cemetery rural Kalona. Visitation will be Friday from 12-6 p.m. at the Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona. Because of COVID, family will not be in attendance and there will be no funeral services. A virtual celebration of Cecil’s life is planned for Saturday, Dec. 5th at 10 a.m. Emails or interest in the Zoom celebration of life can be sent to: CEM1924@yahoo.com . A memorial fund has been established for Pleasantview Building Fund. Messages and tributes may be sent to the family at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.
