Miller, Paula Skeel

Paula Skeel Miller died Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, in her home with her family. She battled breast cancer for about a year. Funeral services will be 7 p.m. Monday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Graveside services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Oak Hill Cemetery in New Hartford.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established as “Friends of Paula Miller Memorial Fund” with checks being sent to 410 Upland Ave., Iowa City, IA 52245 or deposited through any Wells Fargo Bank. Donations can also be made online at http://friendsofpaulamillermemorialfund.chipin.com./friends-of-paula-miller-memorial

Online condolences may be sent for her family through the Web at www.gayandciha.com

Paula Denise Skeel was born Feb. 22, 1953, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Rex and Zoe Skeel. She was raised in Evansdale with her two older sisters, Jacklyn Skeel (Cedar Rapids) and Kathleen Leeper (Salt Lake City). Paula and her family moved to Cedar Rapids, when she was 10 years old. Paula graduated from Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids. As an adult she lived in Cedar Rapids, briefly in Manchester and the last 12 years in Iowa City.

She was a devoted mother and homemaker. She had seven children and was considered by many to be their second mom. She had seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She is survived by her two sisters, (Jackie and Kathy) and her husband, John Miller.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rex V. Skeel (1986) and Zoe V. Skeel (2005); and her nephew, Rex Jared Skeel (1999).

Paula was a devout Christian woman. She was very involved with her churches - First Pentecostal in Cedar Rapids and then Living Word in Iowa City. She worked as a school bus driver for the last couple of years in Iowa City for Durham. She enjoyed driving the bus because she liked the children; sometimes she even brought them homemade cookies.

Paula loved to help anyone in need. She touched the lives of many people in significant ways. She was a woman who truly lived from her heart and loved unconditionally. She will be truly missed and her amazing spirit will be carried on by many.