Obituary of Elmo Miller

<h1>Elmo Miller</h1> 1929-2010 Elmo passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 13th 2010 at Freeport Health Centre of Grand River Hospital in Kitchener. Elmo was born in Berlin Ohio on January 18th 1929 and grew up with his parents, brothers and sisters in Holmes County. Elmo spent two years in voluntary service at Junior Village in Washington DC where he met Irmgarde and followed her to Kitchener in 1954 where they were married on May 28th 1955. Elmo worked for Maple Lane Dairy until 1956 when he joined J.M. Schneider’s where he worked for 33 years. Elmo sang with the Schneider’s choir for 23 years and had many great memories of that time. The Mennonite Church was a crucial part of Elmo’s life. From Berlin Mennonite to Oak Grove to First Mennonite in Kitchener, Elmo was an active and involved church member. He gave and received much support to his church family. In his retirement, Elmo spent 18 years playing the keyboard and entertaining in retirement and nursing homes from Waterloo to as far away as Florida! In 2007 he joined the Harmonica Band and played both keyboard and harmonica with them until 2009. Elmo was known for his generosity, (especially with his change purses!), his humour and his music. Elmo will be lovingly remembered by his wife Irmgarde (Bast), his two children; Cheryl Miller and her husband Steve Hemming of London and Rod Miller and his wife Sue Gallagher of Waterloo. He had a special relationship with each of his 5 grandchildren; Tyler and Erin Hemming and Jon, Hannah and Andy Miller. They will miss their grandpa’s tricks, jokes and unwavering interest, support and pride in their activities and their lives. Elmo was predeceased by his parents Eva Marie and Ervin Miller; his brother Jack Miller and his wife Martha, Bob Miller and brother and sister-in-law Walter Bast and his wife Gladys. Elmo will be fondly remembered by his sisters Elsie Miller of Smithville Ohio and Jeanette Beyeler and her husband Milt of Wooster Ohio. He will also be missed by his brothers and sisters- in- law Mary Miller of Walnut Creek Ohio, Harold Bast and his wife Dorothy and Howard Bast and his wife Pauline of Kitchener. His nieces and nephews and cousins and friends are too numerous to mention but will all share fond memories of Elmo. A very special thanks to Dr. Martha Taylor for her ongoing compassionate care. Friends are invited to share their memories of Elmo with his family at the Erb &amp; Good Family Funeral Home 171 King Street South, Waterloo (today), Wednesday, July 14 from 7-9 p.m. and on Thursday, July 15 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A service to celebrate his life and faith will be held at First Mennonite Church, Kitchener on Friday, July 16, 2010 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at the church. Following cremation a private family interment will take place at First Mennonite Cemetery.Donations to First Mennonite Church or Shalom Counselling Services would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy and may be arranged through the funeral home, www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445. In living memory of Elmo, a donation to the Trees for Learning Program will be made by the funeral home.