116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Max Miller
MAX JOSEPH MILLER
Cedar Rapids
Max Joseph Miller, 83, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, March 16, 2017, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be Monday, March 20, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Reece Funeral Home in Ottumwa. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Ottumwa Cemetery.
Max was born to Anna and Stephen Miller in Ottawa, Ill., on Jan. 6, 1934. He was preceded in death by a brother, Stephen, age 8, and a sister at birth. Max graduated from St. Ambrose University and received his master's degree from the University of Iowa in accounting. He attended Officers Candidate School and stayed in the Navy for 20 years, retiring with the rank of commander. In 1963, he moved to Ottumwa as manager of the Chamber of Commerce, where he met his wife, Cherie. They were married on Oct. 3, 1964. He later assumed the position of business manager for the Ottumwa Community School District, where he signed Cherie's paychecks. He retired from this position in 1995.
Max and Cherie moved to Cedar Rapids in 2005 to be close to their grandchildren. This brought them years of joy. While living in Cedar Rapids, Max delivered food to shut-ins, served at the Marion Food Pantry and was on the Cedar Rapids Planning Committee. He also was on the auditor committee for Cedar Rapids Schools and a member of the Inter-religious Council board. He attended St. Joseph Church in Marion and visited nursing homes each Sunday.
Max was active in many groups. He received the Salvation Army Lifetime Award, was a City Council member and was president of the Ottumwa Regional Health board, Water Works board and RVI board. He was a member of the Noon Kiwanis and library board and was one of the founders of Tenco Industries. He was a member of St. Mary of the Visitation.
Max is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Cherie; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Todd Steigerwaldt of Marion; and grandchildren, Joseph and Lauren.
Max and Cherie enjoyed many years of traveling and attending their grandchildren's activities. A lifelong Cubs fan, Max realized his dream last fall when the Cubs won the World Series.
Memorials may be directed to St. Joseph's Church in Marion or the National Parkinson Foundation, 200 SE First St., Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131.
Daily Newsletters