Maurice Eugene Miller was born on June 22, 1930, near Hancock, Iowa, the son of Glenn and Hazel (Taylor) Miller. He graduated from Oakland (Iowa) High School in 1947 and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
On January 31, 1953, he married Hazel Jacobsen in Avoca, Iowa. They lived on her family farm east of Hancock for over 50 years. His lifelong passion for trains, as well as his hobby of model railroading, grew while on the farm along the Rock Island / Iowa Interstate Railroad.
Maurice was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, the Scheffler Hildebrand American Legion Post #720 in Hancock, a member of the Korean War Veterans Association and various model railroading clubs.
Along with farming, Maurice was employed with the ASCS and the Iowa Crop Association, as well as his personal business of Railand Hobbies.
Maurice Eugene Miller died Sunday, September 21, 2008, at Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, having reached the age of 78 years, 2 months, and 30 days.
Preceding Maurice in death were his parents, and one sister, Barbara Bird. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Hazel; five daughters, Julie (Ken) Young of Grinnell, Iowa, Janis (David) Hannasch of Atlantic, Iowa, Janel (Kirk) Tyler of West Des Moines, Iowa, Loyla (Dean) Renfeld of Sioux City, Iowa, and Loree (TJ) Eddleman of Lake Kiowa, Texas; one son, Lonny (Liz) Miller of Gretna, Nebraska; two sisters, Doris (Don) Eyler of Carson, Iowa, and Gloria (Gene) Gleaves of Oakland, Iowa; one brother, Jeep (Ruth) Miller of Oakland, Iowa; ten grandchildren, Jill Hannasch, Jessica and Jay Tyler, Aaron, Laura and Jonathan Miller, Derek and Kristen Renfeld, Logan and Jamie Eddleman; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held on Friday, September 26, 2008, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, Iowa, with Pastor Dennis Reich and Pastor Dave Krueger officiating. Shirley Pattee and Doug Clark served as musicians. Honorary casket bearers were Lowell & Pat Thomas, Don & Fay Scheffler, John & Betty Oehlertz, Larry McDermott, Louie Harder, Paul Harder, and Eric Sorensen. Active bearers were Jessica Tyler, Aaron Miller, Jay Tyler, Derek Renfeld, Jill Hannasch, Laura Miller, Kristen Renfeld, Logan Eddleman, Jonathan Miller, and Jamie Eddleman. Burial was in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Hancock, Iowa, with the Scheffler Hildebrand A.L. Post #720 of Hancock providing Military Rites. Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa, was in charge of the arrangements.