Karen Y. Miller

Karen Y. Miller

Iowa City

Karen Y. Miller, 81, of Iowa City, passed from this life on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at the Birdhouse in Iowa City. A funeral will be held on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 1:00 PM at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Iowa City with Pastor Alberta Erwin officiating. The service will be available via Livestream on the Beatty Peterseim Facebook and YouTube pages. Following a time of fellowship at the church, a burial will be held at the Sharon Hill Cemetery in Kalona. Visitation was held Sunday, September 21, 2025, from 3 - 6 PM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. Memorial funds are welcome for St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Iowa City Hospice, or the Alzheimer’s Association. The Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Karen Yvonne (Yoder) Miller was born November 25, 1943, in Kalona, Iowa, the daughter of Monroe D. and Luella F. (Yoder) Yoder. She grew up milking cows before school and showing them at the county fair as a proud 4-H kid. At Mid-Prairie High School, she balanced basketball, baton twirling, and cheerleading, later adding secretarial school to her formal education.

On May 19, 1963, she married Charles “Chip” Miller at the Kalona United Methodist Church, marking the beginning of their 56-year marriage. They settled in Iowa City, where they raised four children while she worked as the crossing guard at Hoover Elementary and later at City Appliance Service. She was a member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, where she participated in United Methodist Women, Bible study, and women’s retreats.

She will be remembered for her legendary monster cookies, baking an estimated four thousand dozen over the years. Her table was rarely without a puzzle or a deck of cards, and people to share them with her. She cherished her grandchildren and faithfully attended their games, recitals, concerts, and graduations near and far.

Karen smiled with her whole face, had a gift for connecting with people, making new friends at each chapter of her life. Water aerobics and Knee Knockers were social groups she enjoyed as well as lunching with friends at Jimmy Jack’s and Hilltop.

She also loved the time she spent with her siblings, whether it be around a bonfire, playing cards or teasing one another at holiday meals - there were always a lot of giggles. Karen found great joy in attending Hawkeye athletics and was arguably the most loyal Cubs fan of her time.

Her family will greatly miss her including four children: Angela (David) Bywater of Iowa City, Deanna Miller of Iowa City, Jeffrey Miller of Asheville, NC, Jennifer (Brett) Johnson of Weaverville, NC; nine grandchildren: Emily, Megan and Adam Bywater, Luella “Elly”, Sage, Betsy June and Charles “Charlie” Miller, Ben and Katie Johnson; three sisters: Beverly Bauer of North Oaks, MN, Boni Yoder of Riverside, IA, Cheri (Nathan) Miller of Kalona, sisters-in-law: Sally (John) Hershberger, Ruby Miller and brother-in-law Derald Bender, all of Kalona.

Preceding Karen in death were her parents and parents in-law, an infant daughter, her husband, brother Jim Yoder, her brothers-in-law: Bill Bauer, Owen, Henry (Ella), Milton, and Robert Miller, and her sisters-in-law: Anna Pfeiffer (Chuck), Alma Hershberger (John), and Marilyn Bender.

The family wishes to thank the kind and caring staff at Legacy Pointe in Iowa City for making her final year joyful and comfortable.