Patricia Miller

Patricia Jean Miller, age 86, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 13th at American House, Kentwood, Michigan. She was born December 29, 1933 in Cadillac Michigan to Ray and Maxine Austin. She married the love of her life Lester Andrew Miller, on July 5, 1951 in Stanton. She loved her “one-and-only” physically for 50 years until his death in January 2001. Love is eternal and we know they are blessed to be together again laughing and dancing with their many family and friends.

Anyone that knew Pat, knew first and foremost she loved her family. She would talk to anyone and everyone (at times to nauseum) about her kids, grandkids and great grandkids. Mom told all who would listen, stories of her son Tim and “her girls” Marcia who she said was her strong daughter and Tammy who was forever her baby! Her hands were made for tight hugs and constant baking. She and Lester partnered in decorating cakes and she relished in making 90% of the cakes that were enjoyed and eaten by family and friends in-and-around Stanton. She had a great love for cooking such family favorites as beef and noodles, pumpkin cookies, chocolate sheet cake and anything else the grandkids would state was their favorite. It was her honor to make dinner for anyone and everyone who came to visit her in Stanton, (she didn’t care when the grandkids would drop by with 5-6 friends, she would just smile and feed them too). Her cooking skills were one for the history books. She taught her granddaughter Erica the skill of making her homemade noodles and her “depression era” dumpling soup. Granddaughters, Alicia and Cindy learned the skill of Christmas baking, Grandson Steve would spend 6 months each year picking out his birthday cake, while Benjamin and Travis learned early on that grandma was there to
make them anything and everything they desired. Mom had a wicked sense of humor and sharp tongue that would sometimes cause us pause when she began one of her stories. Little did we know these Pat stories would become
such memory makers. Pat’s passion was beyond-a-doubt her grandchildren. We are blessed that her legacy will not be forgotten and will be spoken daily to her great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

For many years Pat worked at Leppink’s Supermarket. She retired in 1987 so that she and Lester could travel to the many WWII POW conventions that they deeply enjoyed. They were also able to take their once-in-a-lifetime vacation to Hawaii in 1998.

Pat is survived by her son Timothy Miller, daughters Marcia (Jeff) Bratsburg and Tammy (Wade) Hancock, sister Charlene Reuther, brother in-law Carl Smith and sister-in-law, Sharon Miller. Grandchildren, Benjamin (Hillary) Kohn, Stephen (Rachael) Kohn, Alicia (Rob) Ryers, Cindy (Ray) Pena, Erica (Jeff) Bode, Travis (Sydney) Hancock, Lisa (Tom) Beison, Ann Bratsburg, Lance (Lisa) Bratsburg, and Jennifer (Justin) Ruwersma. She is also survived by 21 great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren and her many nephews and nieces. All these individuals she loved and touched deeply.

Pat is preceded in death by her husband Lester and her Grandson Andrew Miller, her Parents, parents-in-law, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and brothers-in-law.

In keeping with Pat’s wishes, there will be no formal ceremony. The family is planning a private graveside service at Forest Hill Cemetery, Stanton, where she will be laid to rest next to her husband Lester and grandson Andrew Miller. In lieu of flowers or memorial gifts, the family asks that you cherish the memories you shared with Pat. This, we know, will keep her memory alive forever.