Robert ‘Bob’ Miller

Robert “Bob” Fred Miller, 84, of Newton died on September 19, 2019, at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines from complications of Alzheimer’s. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 23, 2019, at the First United Methodist Church in Newton. The family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 24, 2019, at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City. The family will greet friends immediately following the burial with a coffee time at Trinity United Methodist Church in Charles City. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the First United Methodist Church, Jasper County Animal Rescue League, or the Alzheimer’s Association may be left at the funeral home or graveside service.

Bob was born December 2, 1934, the only child of Fred and Luella (Bothman) Miller in Elma. He grew up in the Riceville area and graduated high school in Osage. Bob attended Austin, Minnesota Junior College for one year and then served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959. After his time in the service he began work at Oliver/White Farm in Charles City. Bob completed training and became a journeyman tool & die maker four years later and continued working at Oliver/White Farm for 28.5 years. They later moved to Newton and Bob worked at the Maytag Company for 13.5 years, retiring in May of 2001.

On April 30, 1961, Bob was united in marriage with Grace Burgeson in Albert Lea, Minnesota. The couple had a girl and three boys – Stacy, Todd, Chris, and Blake. When the children were young, every summer between Little League and school starting the family would go on tenting trips to see as much of the United States as time would allow. After Bob retired, he and Grace traveled more extensively, seeing all 50 states and all Canadian Provinces at least twice and also 25 countries on six continents and several Caribbean Islands.

Those left to honor Bob’s memory are his wife of 58 years, Grace of Newton; sons, Todd (Lisa) Miller of Charles City, Chris (Rhonda) Miller of Omaha, Nebraska, and Blake Miller of Newton; his grandsons, Branda (Tessa) Miller deployed to Kuwait, Jacob Miller of Ames, and Shane Miller of Charles City. He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Stacy in October of 1981.

The Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton will be handling the arrangements.