Obituaries

John Andrew Miller

Age 78, of Chelsea, Mi, passed away unexpectedly on April 5, 2024. Born on December 23, 1945, in Toledo, Ohio. The son of Stanely R. Miller and Bernice M (Sangbush) Miller. Raised in Michigan he graduated from Ida High School, Ida Michigan, a guitar player in “The Sandstones” ‘64, deemed small enough to fit in the nose cone he repaired aircraft in the Philippines during the Vietnam war. John and Mickey (Helen Michelle McNally) happily married on June 11, 1966. They welcomed son John Andrew “John John” in 1967 and daughter Jennifer Lea in 1970. John had a successful career as a car salesperson, working for Lakeport VW, and Jim Yark in Toledo, Ohio and retired from Dunning Toyota, Ann Arbor. John and Mickey moved to Chelsea in 2004.

A hardworking father, husband and a generous friend. With a love of shooting pool. John enjoyed many things but sharing a tune, a drink and a laugh with the people he loved was by far his favorite.

He is preceded in death by son John John October 6, 1973, and wife Mickey October 6, 2020

He is survived by his daughter Jennifer Jimenez-Miller, her spouse Carol Jimenez-Miller, granddaughter Delaney Isobel Martin-Miller, of Columbus, Ohio and his best man/friend and trusted advisor, Dale Cummings of Munising, Mi.

Assisting with the arrangements is Cole Funeral Chapel, Chelsea Michigan. A graveside service will be held on June 14 at 2 pm at Calvary Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude, supporting their mission to find cures and prevention for childhood cancer and other pediatric life-threatening diseases.

To honor John we ask that the next time you're rocking out to a song or knocking back a drink raise your glass. To John! Slainte!

You may share a memory or leave a message for John's family using the form below. Please allow up to 24 hours for us to review and post your message.

Comments

#5 Bob Balas pt.4 2024-05-20 23:37

I live in Madison, Wisconsin, and had not seen Johnny since the reunion. However my mother (Judy Balas) and Johnny continued to keep up with each other, all the way until a few days before his death. She would often share news from Johnny, which I always appreciated. I am truly saddened by his sudden death, but grateful for the time I was able to spend with such a warm and generous soul. Now, like an Everly Brother, all he has to do is dream...
Rest in Peace Johnny Miller.

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#4 Bob Balas pt.3 2024-05-20 23:26

And so I feel fortunate to at least have briefly reengaged with John and Mickey at the Miller cabin ("Uncle Stan's", as I knew it growing up), that they so graciously made available for the Garlick family reunion on North Lake in 2015, 50 years after I first got to know them. Like most of us, they looked a bit wearied from the years - having already endured the full spectrum of life's heights and depths at a very young age. But they were still the same warm, fun, and hip relatives I had interacted with as a child.

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#3 Bob Balas pt.2 2024-05-20 18:50

I was probably 4 or 5 years old when I first met them. But even then, they made a wonderfully memorable impression on me. They were the cool and hip young couple that made my 25 and 26 year old mom and dad seem middle-aged. Johnny was calm, quiet, lean, and blessed with wavy hair and chiseled features that made me wonder if he was one of the Everly Brothers. He had an Adam's apple that went for days, and one that a 5 year-old like me viewed with awe. Mickey was effervescent, but with a cool vibe and smokey voice. I really liked interacting with her because she spoke with me like I was a young adult. We were around when John John was born, and I remember him as an infant, and then playing with him as he went from baby, to toddler, to little boy. I also remember Jennifer being born and seeing her as a baby. It was at about this time that our lives seemed to diverge - our family to Ann Arbor, the Millers to places I did not really know at the time.

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#2 Bob Balas pt.1 2024-05-20 18:32

I remember cousin Johnny Miller (and Mickey) from my time growing up on the shores of Lake Huron, in Oscoda, Michigan in the mid 1960's, where both he and my Dad, George Balas, were stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Johnny and Mickey would occasionally visit and hang out at our tiny - but cozy cottage on Lake Huron, a few miles from the base.

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#1 Carrie.Inverness Inn 2024-05-03 09:39

You will be missed, our friend. Your kind soul always had beautiful words to share. Your love for life, a cold beer, and jovial presence will never be forgotten. You blessed me in a time I needed a friend to remind me a quiet lakeshore is all you need sometimes in all this crazy! Keeping that old Chevy running, your stories with Dale & that darn Labatt sweatshirt you loved to wear. Rest in Peace my friend.

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