Kathleen Miller

Kathleen E. Miller, 84, of Urbandale, died April 22nd at The Village at Legacy Pointe Senior Care, Waukee, surrounded by the love and laughter of her family, her two favorite things. Kathy was born October 10, 1930 in Baltimore, Maryland, the youngest of four daughters of Philip and Hannah (Sweeney) Hess. She grew up in Sparrows Point, Maryland, a Bethlehem Steel town and graduated from St. Elizabeth Commercial School in 1948. In 1952, her brother-in-law introduced her to a fellow sailor, Floyd Miller. Kathy and Floyd married at St. Lukes Catholic Church, Sparrows Point, on December 26, 1953. To this union, four sons and two daughters were born. When Floyd took a sales manager job with Penn-Dixie Cement in West Des Moines, the couple moved to Beaverdale before settling in their Ashwood Drive home in Urbandale in 1959. Once all of her kids were in school, Kathy clerked and ran the soda fountain at Urbandale Pharmacy, serving countless cups of coffee to her coffee guys every morning and afternoon. She also scooped hundreds of free ice cream cones for the kids who braved their visits to the Urbandale Clinic. She attended her childrens school and sporting events and could be found many summers sitting behind home plate at Gary Page field in Lions Park, helping call balls and strikes. Kathy enjoyed watching sports of any kind, especially college and pro football, college basketball and golf. She loved having a houseful of people, hosting numerous Penn-Dixie Christmas parties and Drake University Over the Hill Gang reunions, as well as many Miller family get togethers. Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, husband Floyd in 2008, sisters Margaret Winkler and Jean Craft and their spouses, and brother-in-law Bill Petty. She is survived by her six children, Phil (Judi) of Kenosha, WI, Jim (Sandi) of Urbandale, Bob (Eva) of Las Vegas, Rich (Nancy) of Iowa City, Rose Grantham (Delk) of Fontanelle, and Sally (Donna) of Langhorne, PA, sixteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren (#13 due later this year). She is also survived by her sister Jerry Petty of Asheville, NC and many treasured nieces, nephews, and friends. A Vigil service will be held Wednesday, May 20th, at 5 p.m. at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, 8201 Hickman Drive, Urbandale, with family visitation following from 5:30 to 7:30. A Mass of Christian burial is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 21st, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Urbandale, where Kathy had been a member since 1959. Inurnment will be at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Van Meter later that day. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family, who will donate in Kathys name to her favorite charities, including the American Heart and Lung Associations, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Adair County Youth and Fitness Center. The family gives heartfelt thanks to the staff at The Village at Legacy Pointe Assisted Living and Skilled Care for their compassionate care and love shown to Kathy. Mom could not have picked a better place or better people to care for her. We would also like to thank Hospice of Central Iowa for guiding us all through her final hours.