Anne Miller

Anne Marie (Landgraf) Miller, age 65, passed away peacefully at the Kavanagh House on December 29, 2022 after a five and half year battle with ovarian cancer. She was born February 27, 1957 in Sac City, Iowa to Raymond and Dorothy Landgraf. Anne graduated from Saint Mary’s of Storm Lake in 1975 and from Mercy College of Health Sciences in 1979.

Anne married the love of her life, Mark Miller on April 24, 1982. Their successful relationship was centered around commitment, companionship, and Mark’s realization that he was always the one wrong; all while having the best time with each other, friends and family.

Anne was a force of life. Her home was open to everyone and her hospitality made them feel important. She was the most loving, humble, honest, compassionate, protective, intuitive, understanding, and family-orientated woman. She was always the first to drop everything to help another in crisis. One of the most beautiful souls one could ever meet.

Anne was the best mother to her children, Jessica Lemmo and Alex Miller. She was proud of their accomplishments, supportive of their endeavors, and always pushing them to never settle. One of her favorite quotes was “there’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.”

Anne volunteered at Van Meter School District in the classroom, as the school nurse, and on the PTA. She taught classes at St. Boniface Catholic Church, volunteered at the Waukee Christian Service Health Clinic, and served on Wildwood Valley Homeowners’ Association numerous years. Mark and Anne found joy in counseling engaged couples at St. Boniface with practical advice and wisdom.

Her grandchildren were the center of her universe, the light between her treatments, and her fuel to keep fighting for more days. Even though her role as a grandmother was short-lived, it burned bright with a life-time of love and guidance that will never be forgotten in their hearts.

Anne’s gardens were a reflection of herself: beautiful, abundant, fruitful, and welcoming. She loved hosting pool parties over the summer months at Club Miller as well as an afternoon drink in her special, custom-built treehouse through the seasons. Her vacations always required a beachfront, a book, and a cocktail.

Before she became ill, Mark and Anne traveled Europe, Mexico, Israel, and Hawaii numerous times. After her diagnosis, they traveled to clinics in Idaho, Texas, Kansas, and Mexico looking for a cure. Last September, they made their last trip together and checked two more experiences off her bucket list by visiting Niagara Falls and Mackinac Island.

Anne spent her entire nursing career at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Her husband often referred to her as the “Angel of Mercy” due to her 40 years of dedicated care to her patients. Anne was thankful for the great care returned to her from the offices of Dr. Steven Elg and Dr. Sarah Tallman at the Iowa Clinic, Dr. Megan McDonald at the University of Iowa, and the whole team at Iowa IV.

Anne is survived by her husband, Mark Miller. Her daughter, Jessica Lemmo and husband, Tony, granddaughters, Lucia and Lola of Des Moines; son, Alex Miller and wife Nicole, grandson, James of Waukee; three sisters, Julie (David) Thelen of North Platte, NE, Paula Landgraf of Iowa City, IA, and Carol (Pat) Lenhart of Storm Lake, IA; three brothers, Gerald (Barbara) Landgraf of Albuquerque, NM, Tom (Sue) Landgraf of Mason City, IA, and John (Joyce) Landgraf of Storm Lake, IA. Her brother in law, Rob (Julie) Miller of Indianola; and numerous nieces, nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents; and sisters and brother in laws, Sue (Mike) Schipfman, Kathy (Don) Bringle.

Please join us in celebrating her life Saturday, March 4th, 2023, between 3 pm and 6 pm at Willow on Grand 6011 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312. In lieu of flowers, donations may be designated to the “Anne Miller Student Nursing Scholarship Fund” online by visiting https://www.mercyone.org/desmoinesfoundation/give/mercy-college or mailed to Mercy College of Health Sciences, 928 6th Ave, Des Moines, Iowa 50309.