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Miller, Rita
Rita Miller, 72, of Iowa City, formerly of Ackley, died Friday, June 25, 2010, at her home in Iowa City. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 29, at West Friesland Cemetery near Ackley, followed by a time of fellowship and refreshments till 4 p.m. at Ackley First Methodist Church. A celebration of Rita's life will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Northridge Pavilion in Coralville.
Memorial donations can be made in Rita's memory to Iowa City Hospice or Mercy Hospital Foundation.
Online condolences may be sent for her family through the Web at
Rita Mae Heitland was born July 2, 1937, near Ackley, Iowa, the daughter of Harvey and Margaret (Kugel) Heitland. She graduated salutatorian of her high school class in Ackley in 1955. On Aug. 14, 1955, she was united in marriage to Harry L. Miller at First Methodist Church in Ackley. In 1956, they moved to Iowa City, where together they raised their family while she worked for many years as an administrative clerk at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Rita enjoyed many things in life, her garden, cooking for family and friends, watching game shows, doing crossword puzzles and collecting Hummel & Isabel Bloom figurines. She loved to travel, especially to places of historical significance, where she would always mange to find little shops specializing in handcrafted wares. She wasn't one to pass up a theme park with all the rides. A more devoted Hawkeye fan would be hard to find, she and Harry had season tickets to both football and basketball games for many years. Adventuresome, outgoing, fun loving, and one that loved being mom and grandma, this was Rita!
Her family includes her children, Randall Miller (Marge) of Urbandale, Dawn Neppel (Brian) of Iowa City, Debra Miller (Gary Horrell) of Homosassa, Fla., and Scott Miller (Laura) of Lone Tree; and grandchildren, Nathan, Hannah, Harrison, Harmon and Lilian Miller, Matthew and Daniel Neppel.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her second mother, Jeannette Abbas; and her husband, Harry Miller.
Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Rita's family and her services.
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