Loretta Mae Miller

Loretta Mae Miller, 89, of Greene, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at MercyOne North Iowa in Mason City.  Woodley Funeral Home of Greene is caring for Loretta and her family.

A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Woodley Funeral Home in Greene. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. with a one-hour prior visitation on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church in Greene with Pastor Joan Thomas officiating. Following the service, Loretta will be laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery in Greene.

Loretta was born on July 18, 1934, in Hampton, IA to George and Velda (Meyer) Janssen. She attended country school through 8th grade then went to public school and graduated from Hampton High School in 1952. Upon graduation Loretta began working at the bank in Hampton. She met her future husband Galen  in 1953 when they both attended Rural Youth. The couple was united in marriage on Dec. 14, 1954, in Hampton. Together they had four beautiful children. Loretta and Galen farmed together on the family farm west of Greene until Galen retired in 2008.

Loretta was a hard worker and drove the tractor and combine as well as provided meals for all who helped on the farm; among many other things she did to take care of her family. The Millers were also entrepreneurs and had several businesses in Greene: the Greene Lanes bowling alley, Miller Café, and Miller Apartments, as well as flipping properties together. Loretta earned her license to sell insurance which she did for several years, and also her real estate license, working alongside Galen in Miller Real Estate.

She had many hobbies, Loretta loved quilting and crafts- she was very artistic and talented. Loretta did a lot of cooking and baking, when they owned Miller Café, she always made sure there were fresh pies every single morning. She was instrumental in organizing the First Presbyterian community meal on Thanksgiving Eve, at which her delicious cranberry recipe was always a highlight. Loretta used her creativity to design cards for the church ladies to make each month for the shut-ins and nursing home residents. She also enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening. On Tuesdays, Loretta participated in a ladies bowling league. She was an avid bowler, along with her husband and they competed in many leagues and tournaments in Hampton and Greene. They were also card players and liked getting together with friends to play cards. Loretta loved to read and was a lifelong learner, using technology to learn about new things to try including craft tutorials during the pandemic.

Loretta was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She and Galen were loyal followers of all of their children and grandchildren’s school activities. She loved spending time with her family and found joy in caring for others as much as she possibly could; whether it was with a hot meal, warm quilt or handmade card- she knew how to show her love.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children: Pam (Kent) Kennedy of DeWitt, IA, Mark (Patti) Miller of Charles City, IA and Sandy (Jeff) Mouw of Greene, IA; grandchildren: Laura (Joseph) Dammann, Kathleen (Ryan) Kedley, Andrew (Meredith) Kennedy, Tricia (Joe) Klapheke, Eric (Anna) Miller, Emily Miller, Sara (Greg) O’Brien, David (Cassie) Mouw, Leah (Ryon) Rasmussen and Daniel (Marissa) Mouw; great-grandchildren: Emmett and Edison Dammann, Lucas, Cormac and Sullivan Kedley, Everly, Pierce and Edith Kennedy, Devin and Louisa Klapheke, Alexis and Melanie Miller,  Maxwell, Jillian, and Natalie O’Brien and Maren Rasmussen; and sister, Maxine (Don) Heuberger of Sheffield, IA.

She was greeted into heaven by her husband, Galen, who passed in 2012 and their daughter, Laurie Ann who passed in 1965 and her parents George and Velda.