Neil Miller

Charles Neil, son of Charles and Phyllis (Hulsebus) Miller, was born August 4, 1940 in Harlan, Iowa. He grew up on a farm east of Defiance and went to rural school in the area until it closed. He then attended Manilla Public School, graduating with the Class of 1958. While in high school he was active in band and FFA. His teacher Mr. Johnson raised goats and some mysteriously ended up in school one weekend..Oh, that Class of '58! After graduation he attended Heavy Equipment School in Omaha, NE, but had to return home to help on the farm. On June 12, 1966 Neil was united in marriage with Mary Benge at the Methodist Church in Defiance. They lived there for five years before moving to Manilla. Neil then worked for Western Iowa Pork in Harlan till it closed. He enjoyed being around farming and worked for ConAgra and FSC, retiring at age 65. Neil could always be found working in his garage on his old pickup trucks until they would look like new. He loved his grandkids and talking with them on the phone. After his health began to fail, he had some surgery and ended up with a terrible infection. He died on Monday, August 3, 2015 at Crawford County Hospital in Denison at the age of 74 years, 11 months and 30 days. Preceding him in death are his parents and one brother Eugene in infancy. Neil is survived by his wife Mary Miller of Manilla; children Rick Miller of Manilla, Brian Miller (Jennifer) of Manilla and Jodi Gubbels (Bob) of Defiance; six grandchildren; one great granddaughter; two brothers Lyle Miller and family of Manilla and Allan Miller and family of Pennsylvania; two brothers in law John Benge of Manilla and Greg Holmes of Manilla; four sisters in law Marjorie Benge of Manilla, Virginia Gregerson of Manilla, Barb Holmes of Manilla and Lorraine Gibson of Henderson, KY; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DEFIANCE, IOWA REVEREND LAURIE RILEY, OFFICIATING Music "AMAZING GRACE" CONGREGATION "GO REST HIGH ON THAT MOUNTAIN" VINCE GILL "ANGELS AMONG US" ALABAMA PAULETTE RASMUSSEN, ORGANIST Urn Bearers ~ Grandchildren JOSEPH GUBBELS JACOB GUBBELS KATE GUBBELS SPENCER MILLER JARED SCHMIDT KAYLA MILLER Honorary Urn Bearer ~ Great granddaughter SAWYER SCHMIDT Interment of Cremated Remains UNION TOWNSHIP CEMETERY DEFIANCE, IOWA