Clayton L. Miller, 89

Clayton L. Miller, 89, of rural Omaha, died at his home on Wednesday, December 19, 2012.

Services are 10 a.m. Monday, December 24, at Northwest Hills Church, 9334 Fort, Omaha. Visitation will be 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, December 23, at Roeder Mortuary, 108th & Maple Chapel.

A full obituary will be available at a later date.

Posted On-line: Wednesday, December 19, 2012; Published in The Enterprise, Friday, January 4, 2013

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Clayton L. Miller, 89

Clayton L. Miller, 89, died Wednesday, December 19, 2012, at his home in southern Washington County.

Services were Monday, December 24, at Northwest Hills Church in Omaha. Interment was in the Fort Calhoun Cemetery.

Clayton L. Miller was born on September 20, 1923, in Fort Calhoun to Guy and Elsie Miller.

He had a wonderful childhood, growing up with his two younger brothers, Don and Russ. During the summers, he spent a lot of time with his grandfather at their farm, Peanut Hill, in southern Washington County. He helped his grandfather with the farming, took him his lunch or helped with the team of horses.

When he was older, he would also spend time out on his Uncle Jay’s ranch in Colorado, enjoying time with his cousins, riding horses and helping out with chores, including helping his Uncle Jay dig wells which involved the use of dynamite.

He attended Monroe Junior High and was a proud Benson Bunny where he participated in gymnastics. His favorite event was the rings.

He met the love of his life, Juanita Stanley, when they were about 15 years old, while ice skating. On August 15, 1942, at age 18, they married.

Several months later, he headed to the Army as part of World War II.

It was during World War II that not only did they have their daughter Sunny but he also received his pilot’s license. His love for flying continued throughout his life and when he wasn’t able to spend his time flying a Cessna anymore, he started building model airplanes.

He also continued his love of horses that he had throughout his life, having a horse in his life until about five years ago with the death of the last remaining horse on the farm.

Throughout their 70-year marriage, the couple did a lot of living, experiencing many wonderful times as well as some very hard times, including the loss of their oldest child Sunny at age six.

Their life was filled with their three remaining children, Susan, William and Laurie, as well as their many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, taking trips as an entire family to Disney World, having family gatherings and just enjoying each other’s company.

They were very involved with the church, teaching Sunday school for many years. Mr. Miller sang in the choir.

He was a plumber for the majority of his life and proudly affiliated with Plumber’s Local 16. He retired from Tritz Plumbing in 1985.

Mr. Miller died on the farm before the first big snow of the year, which is exactly how he would have wanted it.

He was loved by many and missed by many more, but especially by his family.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Juanita “Mickey” Miller, daughters and son-in-law, Susan Miller of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Laurie and Peter Massa of Omaha; son and daughter-in-law, William and Marcel Miller of North Carolina; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and brother, Russell Miller.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Sunny; and brother, Donald Miller.

Memorials may be directed to Northwest Hills Church, 9334 Fort Street, Omaha, NE 68134.