Stephen Miller

STEPHEN MILLER

Cedar Rapids

Stephen Vincent Miller, 76, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, as a result of complications related to a 22- year battle with Parkinson's disease. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, April 22, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Hiawatha, by the Rev. Mark Ressler. Friends may visit with the family after 9:30 a.m. at the church. Teahen Funeral Home is serving the family.

Stephen was born May 26, 1940, to Paul Emmett and Virginia Draths Miller in Fort Wayne, Ind. He graduated from Central Catholic High School in Fort Wayne and received a B.S. degree in business from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Stephen participated in graduate studies at Indiana University of Law and the University of Utah MBA program. From August 1964 through 1970, Stephen served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Kelly AFB in San Antonio, Texas, and RAF Alconbury, England. He married Loretta Rossi, and they had two daughters, Pamela Ann Miller Nicolson and Kathryn Miller Haines. They later divorced.

After completing seven-plus years in the Air Force, he worked at North Electric Co. in Galion, Ohio, and later G.D. Searle in Des Plaines, Ill., as manager of purchasing. Stephen joined Rockwell Collins in 1979 as a senior contract manager and led the team that successfully negotiated the multimillion dollar cost- based development contract for the U.S. Navy's AN/ARC-210 radio during the 1990s. He retired from Rockwell in 1999.

Stephen married Nancy A. Wanek in 1982 at St. Pius X Catholic Church. He enjoyed being with the family, his two daughters and three stepchildren, John Wanek, Marianne Wanek Capra and Michael Wanek; and his seven grandchildren.

His interests varied, but included gardening, especially roses, traveling the world with Nancy, spending many years singing in church choirs, building HO model trains, watercolor painting, playing golf (particularly the K of C League and Tuesday Senior League at Twin Pines), and was an avid reader of World War II history.

Stephen belonged to the Marion Noon Lions, Catholic Laymen's League, Friendship Force International of Cedar Rapids and Iowa City and Cedar Rapids Literary Club. He was an honorary 3rd degree life member of Knights of Columbus Council 5390 in Marion and a member of the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Assembly 3180 in Marion.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Nancy; children and grandchildren, Pamela Miller (James) Nicholson, Rebecca and Christopher of Hampshire, England; Kathryn Miller (Garrett) Haines, Gryphon and Eleanor of Pittsburgh, Pa.; John Wanek of Geneva, Switzerland; Marianne Wanek (Jimmy) Capra, Wren and Lucy of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; and Michael (Paola) Wanek and Michelle of Miami, Fla.; sisters, Virginia (John) Colligan, Cindy (Donald) Sproule and Julian Watson; and brother Paul M. Miller.

Stephen was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Emmett Miller and Virginia Draths Miller; and sisters, Mary Sue Getz and Catherine Ehler.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Stephen's name to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.

Stephen's family would like to thank the Rev. Mark Ressler for his daily visits, and family and friends, who took time to visit Stephen at the hospice house. They also would like to thank the guardian angels of the Earth – the Hospice House of Mercy staff – for their wonderful work.

Online condolences can be left at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.