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Colleen Mae (Mayne) Miller was born March 23, 1931, to Ruby and Eldon Mayne on the Mayne family farm. Colleen was the second of four children. She started cooking at a young age, producing many gourmet mud pies which her brothers refused to eat, and she developed a keen sense of empathy for the animals on the farm, planning funerals when needed and ensuring there were mourners by smacking her brothers on the head with a pan.
Colleen married Kenneth Miller Aug. 24, 1948, in Hiawatha, Kansas. They rented a farm on the Prescott corner, but before they were able to plant their first crop Kenny was drafted into the Army to serve in the Korean War, stationed in Germany. Colleen followed him to Germany the next year with their son Rodney.
When they had all returned stateside, they rented a farm near Winterset, then in 1961, they moved to the Miller family farm near Kent, where they lived, farmed and raised their family for the next 63 years. Colleen took great pride in raising the five children and helping on the farm. Additionally, she worked part time jobs over the years, her favorite at a daycare for small children. She was a professional cake decorator and a fabulous cook, preparing memorable meals for family, friends and anyone who just happened to drop by. She was an active member of the Cromwell Congregational Church.
Colleen loved to travel. She and Kenny planned annual family vacations and visited most of the 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska. They also traveled to Spain and Mexico. She enjoyed hosting their card club and family parties and loved nothing better than a wiener roast in the timber with family and friends.
Colleen and Kenny were blessed with 19 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren. Colleen loved every minute she could spend with them.
Colleen died of heart failure on Jan. 1, 2025, in the presence of her beloved family. She will be greatly missed. The family is grateful for the care she received at the end of her life from Hospice and the caring nurses and staff at Creston Specialty Care.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Kenneth Miller; son, Rodney Miller; her parents, Ruby and Eldon Mayne; parents-in-law, Irene and Glenn Miller; brother, Gerald Mayne and his wife, Joan; sister, Sheryl Wilke and her husband, Dick.
Colleen is survived by her brother, Gilmer Mayne and wife Reffa; her children: Craig C. (Teresa) Miller, Terri (Benjamin) Chait, Cyndy (Daryl) Hinton and Daniel (Sue) Miller; daughter-in-law, Roxanne Miller; grandchildren: Jason Miller, Derek Miller, Nathan Miller, Stephen Miller, Matthew Miller, Sarah Wollin, Amy Wall, Abbie Miller, Joram Miller, Ian Miller, Seth Miller, Shem Miller, Jess Maxwell, Christopher Richey, Luke Hinton, Cayley Allison, Jacob Miller, Amber Jones and Jordan Miller and 39 great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life service will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 10, at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center of Creston, with Rev. Jason Miller and Rev. Stephen Miller officiating. Open visitation will be 3-7 p.m., with family receiving friends 5-7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9 at the funeral home. Colleen will be laid to rest beside her husband in the Evergreen Cemetery at Jerusalem, north of Creston.
Memorials may be directed to the Cromwell Congregational Church, Care Initiatives Hospice and the Greater Connections Daycare of Creston. Memories and condolences can be shared online at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.