Emma Miller, 85, of Kalona died Friday, June 13, 2025, at her home in Kalona.
Emma was born September 12, 1939, in rural Kalona, Iowa, the daughter of Jeff and Laura (Bontrager) Ropp. In her youth she accepted Jesus as her Saviour and was baptized. She was a faithful member of the Sharon Bethel Church. Emma was united in marriage to Oren Dale Miller on September 15, 1960, and lived in harmony with one another for 62 and one-half years. Together they farmed until Oren retired in 2018. Emma also cooked meals for the Kalona Historical Society and quilted for many.
Emma is survived by four children: Marlin Eugene and wife Fern of Washington, Virginia Faye, Juanita Grace, and Jasmine Nicole (Miller) Swantz, all of Kalona; 12 grandchildren: Melissa (Marcus Gingerich) of Free Union, Virginia, Angie (Marcus Beachy) of Kalona, Debra (Ray Garza) of Kalona, Kimberly (Merlin Miller) of Washington, and Cheryl (Wes Barkman) of Zanesville, Ohio, Isaiah Swantz of Iowa City, Tyler Swantz of Riverside, Katelyn Swantz, of Wellman, Cassandra Swantz of Cedar Rapids, Emerson Swantz of Kalona, Danika Swantz of Keota, and Ezekiel Feickert of Riverside; 15 great-grandchildren, Haley, Mariah, and Savannah Gingerich, of Free Union, Virginia; Alyssa, Makenna, and Tyson Beachy of Kalona, Nakia, Lance, Hadassah, Raquel and Alana Miller, of Washington, Iowa, Riley and Dawson Garza of Kalona, Myles Barkman of Zanesville, Ohio and Oaklyn Moench of Wellman. Also surviving are five siblings, Vera Mast of Sarasota, Florida, Jake (Susie) Ropp of Kalona, Cecil (Dorothy) Ropp of Ava, Illinois, Virgil (Sue) Ropp of Middlebury, Indiana, Nancy (Benny) Yoder of Riverside, sisters-in-law, Annie Ropp of Kalona, Mary Ropp of Middlebury, Indiana, and brother-in-law Vernon Miller of Kalona.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Oren, grandson Luke Miller, great granddaughter Jocelyn Gingerich, and four siblings, Chester Ropp, Ezra Ropp, Ruby Ann Yoder and Freida Miller.
Visitation will be held Monday, June 16, 2025, at the Sharon Bethel Church where the family will greet friends from 12:00 – 4:00 and 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Funeral service will be held 10:00 am Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at the Sharon Bethel Church in rural Kalona. Burial will be in the Sharon Bethel Cemetery. A general memorial has been established. Yoder- Powell Funeral Home is caring for Emma and her family. www.powellfuneralhomes.com
