Joseph Charles Miller

Joseph Charles Miller was born September 25, 1936 to Melvin and Celena (Van De Wier) Miller in Marshall. As a young child, Joe developed a love for farming, which led him to graduate high school from Morris Ag School. He grew up on a farm three miles west of Milroy with his 2 brothers, Don and Roger. Joe married Marie Kerkaert November 23, 1956 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. Together, the couple began to farm and take care of sheep; prior to taking over his father’s dairy farm in 1965. Joe loved his life on the dairy farm and took great pride in caring for his cows. He raised calves, milked up to 150 cows twice a day and custom chopped silage. Joe was known to many as “Buffalo Joe” for his endeavor in raising buffalo. Joe loved to take his kids to horse shows and on trail rides to Camden and Garvin Parks. He was a long time member of the Saddle Blazers Horse Club. Living on the farm, Joe taught his children to work hard and would do anything for anybody. Joe spent many hours going to fairs for tractor pulls and watching sports. Joe died Friday, November 8, 2013 at Avera Morningside Heights Care Center. Survivors include his children, Jeannie (Lonnie) Swenson of Ihlen, Roxie (Marty) Schlemmer of Sioux Falls, S.D., Dorothy (Brian) DeVos of Waseca, Rita (Mark) Vandeputte of Marshall, Sandy (Larry) Hanson of Marshall, Mary Jo (Chris) Hmielewski of Marshall, and Kent Miller of Marshall; special friend, Sandy Myran of Marshall; 14 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Roger. Happy trails Joe...