Russell Miller

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Russell John Miller was born on July 15, 1961, in Omaha, Nebraska to John and Mary Jane (Gray) Miller. Russ grew up on a farm near Dunlap and graduated from Dunlap High School in 1979.  He was the oldest of three children as well as his dear friend Pete Haase, who he considered an older brother.  He began his work career for one year at Farmland in Denison before going to Sioux Empire College in Hawarden, Iowa. Russ played on the Sioux Empire baseball team. On November 20, 1982, Russ married Lori Kenkel at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. The couple lived in Sioux City while Russ completed college. They then moved to Blair, Nebraska where Russ worked for Medicine Chest in Blair and Tekamah for one year after which he went to work for Shopko in Grand Island and then Omaha.  In 1995, Russ went to work for IBP (which later became Tyson Foods) in Council Bluffs for a short time, he was transferred to Sutton, Nebraska as a station buyer for 23 years. In 2018, Russ accepted a plant buyer position with Tyson Foods in Madison, Nebraska.  He and Lori made their home in Norfolk, Nebraska.  Russ enjoyed every job he held over the years where he made many lifelong friends.  But during his time at Tyson Foods, Russ often said this was the job that he loved the most. He also felt blessed to have worked with a group of great people who he considered not only friends but family.

Growing up, Russ loved to play baseball. He spoke often about how he would pitch baseballs to his grandpa Miller. He also enjoyed coon hunting, mushroom hunting, fishing, gambling, and watching horse races. Russ was a generous person who enjoyed helping others get through tough times. He had a gift of making friends wherever he went. Above all, he loved his wife Lori and his family. He loved making memories with them. It goes without saying the ones that melted his heart were his grandchildren. He loved and cherished each and every one of them.  In 2018 Russ joined the Catholic church in Dunlap, Iowa where he grew in his faith.

Russ died on Saturday, December 18, 2021 at the Faith Regional Hospital in Norfolk, Nebraska after a four-year battle with cancer at the age of 60 years, five months, and three days.

Russ was preceded in death by his parents John and Jane Miller. He is survived by his wife Lori Miller of Norfolk, Nebraska; five children, Emily and her husband Drew Jones of North Platte, Nebraska, twins Amanda and her husband Jeff Roy of Kearney, Nebraska, Amy and her husband Chad Schultz of Kearney, Nebraska, Elizabeth and her husband John Furman of Blair, Nebraska and Matthew Miller and his wife Tori of Iowa City, Iowa; nine grandchildren, Alexia, Drew, Madison, Jaelynn, Miles, Shea, Lillian, Willow, and Nora; two sisters, Shelly and her husband Bob Buresh and Tami and her husband Bud Dunham both of Dunlap, Iowa and many other relatives, coworkers, and friends.