Lowell M. Miller

NORFOLK -- Funeral service for Lowell M. Miller, 88, of Norfolk will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 8, 2019 at the Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk with Rev. Earl Reed officiating. Private family burial will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, Norfolk. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 p.m., Friday, also at the Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk. Military rites will be provided after the service in the funeral home parking lot by the American Legion Post #16, V.F.W. Post #1644, Nebraska American Legion Riders, and the United States Army Honors Guard. Lowell died Sunday, June 2, 2019 at the Heritage of Bel Air Nursing Home in Norfolk. Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk is in charge of the arrangements. Lowell M. Miller was born Feb. 7, 1931, in Tama, Iowa, the son of Ralph and Delilah Marie (Corfman) Miller. He attended grade school in Toledo, Iowa, and graduated from Toledo High School in 1949. Lowell served his country in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953, including nine months on the front line as member of the 45th infantry division during the height of the Korean War. On Sept. 1, 1951, the 45th Infantry Division was deployed to the Far East theater when its advanced training was complete. Following its arrival, the division moved to the front line to replace the 1st Cavalry Division after they suffered over 16,000 casualties in less than 18 months of fighting. The 45th Infantry Division was comprised overwhelmingly of high school students or recent graduates and only about 20 percent of its personnel had prior experience of military service from World War II. Nevertheless, 45th baptism on the front lines included the pivotal battle of Heartbreak Ridge in the fall of 1951. The 45th Infantry Division, along with the 7th Infantry Division, fought off repeated Chinese attacks all along the front line during 1952. Part of Lowell’s duties was to reattach communication wires between the patchwork of bunkers along the front lines each morning after the nightly bombardment. One of his favorite stories about Korea was running wires to a bunker that so happened was being visited by actor Micky Rooney. It meant a lot to Lowell to meet him and that Micky wanted to include a visit to the front-line troops. Acting on a campaign pledge, President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower went to Korea on Dec. 2, 1952. Lowell always remembered him making sure all the troops had a full Thanksgiving dinner that year. On June 3, 1961, Lowell married Marjorie Smith at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where they met. Lowell and Marjorie lived in Mason City, Iowa. Lowell worked for Borden Ice Cream Company in the ice cream production room for 19 years. The family then moved to Norfolk in 1980, where Lowell began working at Gillette Dairy until he retired in 1992. Lowell later worked in the porter and maintenance department for Cornhusker Auto for 10 years. He enjoyed the interaction with fellow employees and shuttling customers to and from work. Lowell enjoyed walking, traveling with his spouse, visiting grandchildren and listening to country music. Lowell was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Norfolk. He always enjoyed morning coffee with his friends. He also was a member of American Legion Post 16, VFW Post 1644 and the Men’s Morning Coffee Club. Survivors include his spouse, Marjorie Miller of Norfolk; his children, Kevin (Sue) Miller of Springfield, Mo., Merlin (Tanya) Miller of Lincoln; nine grandchildren, Megan, Madeleine, Sydney, Katie, Harry, Mary, Savannah, Charlie and Elmina; his sister-in-law, Marjorie J. Miller of Toledo, Iowa; and two nieces and a nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Delilah “Marie” Miller; a grandson, Bobby; and a brother, Gerald. Casket bearers will be Megan, Madeleine, Sydney, Katie, Harry, Mary, Savannah, Charlie and Elmina Miller. Honorary casket bearers will be Lowell’s coffee buddies. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

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Lowell M. Miller

February 7, 1931 - June 2, 2019