Miller, John J. (1942-2010)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2010 Aug 23 p. 9

Birth date: 1942 Aug 24

text of obituary:

JOHN J. MILLER

John J. Miller, 67, of Lancaster, Pa., died Aug. 1, 2010, of a brain tumor. He was born Aug. 24, 1942, the ninth of 11 children, to Jacob E. and Polly (Helmuth) Miller in Arthur, Ill.

He grew up in Goshen, Ind., and graduated from Eastern Mennonite College and Manhattan School of Music. He spent two years of alternate service in Espelkamp, Germany, working at a children’s home.

He was a music and drama teacher, teaching 11 years at Locust Grove Mennonite School, seven years at Rosslyn Academy in Nairobi, Kenya, 16 years at Lancaster Mennonite School, and one year each at Greenwood Mennonite School and Hinkletown Mennonite School. In 1975 he founded the Mennonite Middle School Choral Festival. After his retirement in 2008, he worked part time with music ministries at Neffsville Mennonite Church.

He will be remembered as a vocalist and actor. He sang with various choral groups, including the Mennonite Hour Quartet, and performed in numerous settings as a soloist. He was a frequent actor in plays by Merle Good at the Guernsey Barn in Lancaster, Pa., and beyond, and played a role in the movie Hazel's People.

Survivors include his wife of nearly 40 years, Helen (Kraybill) Miller; a son, Wendell Epp Miller and his wife, Rachel; and a daughter, Frances Miller.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Daniel.

Memorial services were held at the Lancaster Mennonite School Fine Arts Center. Burial was in Bossier Mennonite Church cemetery in Elizabethtown.