| Date of Birth | December 16, 1942 |
| Passed Away | September 7, 2011 |
| Place of Residence | Avoca |
| Home State | NY |
| Service Date | September 9, 2011 |
| Service Time | 1:00 PM |
| Service Location | Bath VA Chapel |
| Interment Location | Bath National Cemetery |
JOHN L. MILLER IV
AVOCA-John L. Miller IV, died peacefully on Wednesday (Sept. 7, 2011) at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester with complications of heart and kidney failure. He was surrounded by his loving family.
He was the son of John and Louise (Buck) Miller and was a graduate of Campbell Central School, Corning Community College and Mansfield University. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1969.
A great joy of his life was his teaching career at Greenwood Central School (1964-1967) and Avoca Central School (1969-1999). His wish was to inspire students to love learning and history and to realize that “freedom is not free.”
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Donna (Krusen) Miller; two sons, Jeffrey (Jennifer) and David (Candace) Miller; two grandchildren, Shane and Faith Miller; his sister, Jane Kaszczynec (Sam); his brother, James Miller (Roxanne) and several nieces, nephews and cousins as well as many friends.
He was active in the Avoca American Legion, the Bath VFW, the Avoca Ambulance Corps and the NYS Retired Teachers Assoc.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the Bath V.A. Center Chapel, with Rev. Donald Lester officiating. Interment will follow at the Bath National Cemetery with military honors.
Flowers will be provided by the family. Those wishing may contribute in his memory to the Avoca Fire and Ambulance Fund, 7 Chase St., Avoca, N.Y. 14809.
Arrangements are with the Avoca Funeral Home, 22 N. Main St., Avoca.
Sarge, you were a true inspiration and will always be thought of with the utmost respect and admiration. My thoughts are with the family. Thank you for sharing Sarge with the rest of us. Rest in peace, Sarge. You deserve it!
Donna and Family, So Sorry to hear of your loss. Your in our thoughts and Prayers.
I’ll alaways remeber you as a mentor,teacher, and a great friend. I hope the angels have ear plugs! Donna and the boys our prayers are with you at this time of sorrow. You know that John is in a better place.
I will remember him as one of the few people/teachers in high school that could put a smile on my face….he will be missed.
So many memories of good times with Jack up on Loucks pond! He will be
remembered with great affection by so many people.
As I have said many times in the past couple of weeks Jack Miller was not only a teacher to me but a good friend. I grew up just 2 houses from where he, Donna and the boys lived. He was quite a presense in our neighborhood as well as at school. He would come and swim in our pool on hot summer days as well as the Merrills’ pool torpedoing myself and Sandy across the entire length of the pool. When we would see eachother in our backyards we would always greet eachother with a loud whistle to say “hello”.
Jack made learning history very interesting and he kept us students captivated throughout the entire lesson. He was a man of honor and integrity and I feel a great void in my heart at his passing.
I also had the opportunity to be in colorguard which he instructed and we won many awards with him leading us.
I know the neighborhood just grew larger in heaven and I am sure that my parents as well as others are welcoming him with open arms.
Rest easy my friend you deserve it.
Love,
Bev. Martin Schumacher
Mr. Miller was an inspiration to me. He could always make me smile and always was there for everyone. When I went to see him at Strong he always new how to put a smile on my face. “Hello Beautiful” as he has always said to me. Cracking jokes and being himself. He was an amazing man and will be truly missed by many. Donna, Dave, and Jeff we are here for you all. We love you guys and we loved Mr. Miller. God Please show him the way and take care of our friend.. Love Jammi
I have so many memories of Mr.Miller. Slamming his hand of his filing cabinet. How much encouragment he gave me. Going too miss you Mr. Miller.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family as they say good-bye to Avoca Central School’s gentle giant. He was everyone’s teacher, mentor and friend but so much more to his family as husband, father and grandfather. Hearts are heavy – God Bless all he left behind.
Mr. Miller (Sarge)
You were a great teacher and friend. You were always there for the students at ACS. Want to thank you for being such and mentor and I will always take the memories that you gave me. My thoughts to Donna, Jeff, and David. Thinking of you in this hard time.
The last time I saw Mr. Miller, I hadn’t seen him in over 20 years, but he still greeted me with that huge smile and booming voice, the same way he did every morning when I was in school, and it made me smile, too, the way it always had. I am so sorry he is gone, and my heart goes out to his family.
I will miss the way u always had a smile on ur face that welcomed each and every 1 of us as we walked into the school. I will miss the “hey pretty lady” or “hey beautiful” that always made me smile.. Know ur generousity and kindness will never never be forgotten by those of us that were lucky enuf to call u friend as well as teacher… Rest now Sarge!! U deserve it!!
Deepest Sympathy goes out to Mrs. Miller and her family at the passing of Mr. Miller…. I have nothing but the fondest memories of Sarge, he was always there for any of us no matter what we needed….His booming voice and big personality will be missed but, never forgotten…
I have been reading everyones comments on my Uncle John “Jack”. I just know him as my uncle; not the teacher, colorguard director, ambulance man or many other roles he fufilled. Just my “favorite Uncle”. He was a gental giant and a loving soul. We have been so fortunate to have him in our life. What a tower of strength he was. Always telling the stupid jokes and letting off dynamite on the pond. Drinking Manhattans and bellering “Hello”. His laugh would infect you and make you smile. Guns, guns and more guns. Ships, ships and more ships. He loved history, his dogs and his family. His last words to me were “keep Donna smiling”. Love you Uncle Jack. Your absence will be felt for years to come.
Although we never had Mr. Miller as a teacher, both of our boys did. He made a lasting impression on all lives he touched and will be missed by many. Rest in peace and enjoy your new live in the presence of our Lord and Saviour.
A gaint of a man, not only in stature, but more importantly, in heart…The lessons he taught us transcend the classroom and will stay with us throughout our lives. My heartfelt condolences to the Miller Family.
He taught me that every day was to be faced with a Good Morning, a smile and a joke. This set the pace for a great day and a great life! Donna and family my thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
Sarge u weren’t only a teacher but a great friend and inspiration. u have left a big void in alot of peoples lives but I am and will see u again one day when i receive my wings. U will always be remembered.
I remember Mr. Millers loud “HEY” and finger snap followed by a grin when we were in the hall. He also saved Rita from floating down the Cohocton River into an uprooted tree when we had a canoe accident during Senior Elective. Most importantly I remember the time he took to know and invest in us as people. That is what makes a great teacher and person. I am thankful to have known him and been influenced by him.
Sarge was a wonderful man. His legacy will live on forever in the lives of everyone he touched. He will be missed. Thank you for everything you have given to us and may you rest in peace. Prayers for his family. God has gained a wonderful angel who will continue to watch over all of us from above. God Bless.
You will always be in our hearts and our prayers. Such an inspiration, friend and great teacher who kept us all motivated. Rest in the arms of Jesus, your in great company now!!
I learned more in Mr. Miller’s class than I ever could from watching the History channel. But Mr. Miller is the reason I enjoy the history channel so much. What a great teacher. From now on, when I hear thunder, I know that will be Mr. Miller banging that filing cabinet in the sky so that I’ll pay attention! My thoughts and prayers go out to Mrs. Miller, Jeff, Dave and the rest of the Miller family.
Donna and Family,
So sorry to hear of your loss.
We will keep you in our prayers.
There were a few teachers in Avoca that I have always said were the reason I graduated in 1997. They were Mr. Peterson, Mr. Hargraves, and Mr. Miller. I have so many memories of Mr. Miller, one that stands out was my senior year. I had just found out that my father was diagnosed with ALS and I was having a bad day. As I walked by Mr. Millers room he yelled to me, “HEY SCOTT, GET OVER HERE…” He asked me what was wrong and I told him. He then asked me, “Is your father gone yet?” I replied no and I will never forget what he told me, “Well then stop feeling sorry for yourself and enjoy the time that you have with him”. I am writing this with tears in my eyes knowing we have lost a great man, teacher, husband, and father. My prayers go out to Donna, Jeff, and Dave and the rest of the family! I am sure Heaven just got a little lounder with Mr. Miller and Mr. Hall back together again!
So very sorry for the loss of great person and teacher.our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Mr. Miller was one of my favorite teachers in High School. He always knew how to add a smile to my day, encouraging all of his students to not just do their best, but to BE their best.
I laugh to myself thinking about him bringing his guns to class(making history come “alive” for us) or his comments about Cher! His support for students went beyond the classroom and the court; he lived it out in every day life…. A few years ago I ran into him while visiting my family and he STILL was encouraging me with kind words and my folks tell me he always asked about me when they saw him…. He will be missed and his memory lives on in the lives of the many, many people he’s supported & encouraged.
THANK YOU, God, for this man who cheered me on when I needed it, who kicked me in the butt when I need it, and ultimately, who pushed me in the direction of becoming the woman I am today. I am forever grateful for his stamp of support and the ways he blessed my life.”