Obituaries
John J. Miller, 16
John J. Miller, age 67, died Sunday morning, August 1, at his home in Lancaster after a brief and courageous battle with a brain tumor. Much loved as a music and drama teacher, he spent a total of 36 years teaching at 5 different schools, including 11 years at Locust Grove Mennonite School and, most recently, 16 years at Lancaster Mennonite School. He retired from teaching two years ago and has since been working part time with music ministries at Neffsville Mennonite Church. John will also be remembered as a vocalist and actor. He performed in numerous settings as a soloist and spent the last 13 years singing with Susquehanna Chorale. He appeared in numerous plays by Merle Good at the Guernsey Barn and beyond, and played a role in the movie Hazel’s People.
John is the husband of Helen L. (Kraybill) Miller. They were married for nearly 40 years. He is father of two adult children, Wendell Epp Miller, married to Rachel Epp Miller, of San Antonio, TX; and Frances Miller of Singers Glen, VA. The 9th in a family of 11 children, he is survived by Barbara (Floyd) Hershberger of Tucson, AZ; Alma Bontrager, Eli (Mary Sue) Miller, and Orie Miller of Goshen, IN; Henry (Mildred) Miller of Harlan, IN; Chris (Lola) Miller of Denver, CO; Emery (Mary Alice) Miller of London, OH; Paul (Sherry) Miller of Orrville, OH; and Mary (Lisa Dimondstein) Miller of Hyde Park, VT. He was preceded in death by a brother, Daniel, who died at age 15, and a sister-in-law Anna Miller.
Born in Arthur, IL to the late Jacob E. Miller and Polly (Helmuth) Miller, John grew up in Goshen, IN. He attended Eastern Mennonite College where he completed a B.A. with a major in music and sang with the Mennonite Hour Quartet. He earned a Master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music in music education. For two years he worked at a children’s home in Espelkamp, Germany. He and his family spent 7 years in Nairobi, Kenya, where he taught at Rosslyn Academy.
John’s teaching style was marked by an insistence on discipline and quality and by a deep and genuine enthusiasm for the work his students created. Never short on ambition, he was instrumental in establishing a drama program at Rosslyn Academy and in growing the music and drama programs at Lancaster Mennonite School, including the addition of yearly musicals. He conducted a performance of the entire Messiah every four years with the LMS choirs and orchestra. He led student choirs on tours to Africa and Eastern Europe.
Outside of the classroom, he was equally comfortable in a tux, performing, or in overalls fixing cars. Both types of activities fed him. John’s humor bordered on eccentric, but the enthusiasm of his laugh was contagious. Church was a central facet of John’s life. He was a member of Mellinger Mennonite Church.
There will be a Viewing at Neffsville Mennonite Church on Friday evening, August 6, from 4:00 – 8:00 PM. Internment will be private. A Memorial Service will be held at the Lancaster Mennonite High School Fine Arts Center on Saturday evening, August 7, at 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Lancaster County, PO Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604 or Lancaster Mennonite School, 2176 Lincoln Hwy East, Lancaster PA 17602.
The family invites anyone who was a member of a choir under John’s direction to sing in a volunteer choir at the memorial service. Please visit www.millerjj.info/choir/ for more information.
Arrangements by the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Chapel, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA. To send an online condolence, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com.
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Condolences to the Family
May 01, 2019
I’m deeply heartbroken by Mr. Miller’s passing. My heartfelt condolences to Mr. Miller’s family. Becuase of Mr. Miller, I was introduced to American Choral Music. I’m sure I wasn’t even close to okay in reading music notes or with my englishbut he gave me the opportunity to sing in LMH Choir for two years. I wish I hadn’t looked up his name in facebook. May God bless his soul and may he rest in peace. I know he’s with our Savior in heaven.
Dilnesa Kifle Eshete
Dear Mrs. Miller,
Please accept my condolences on the passing of Mr. Miller. Many of my most favorite high school (LMH, ’95-99) memories include activities that were organized by Mr. Miller: singing in the Messiah at Christmastime (absolutely a life-changing experience), acting in several plays and musicals (including A Christmas Carol and The Music Man), and playing clarinet in the band. I also had Mr. Miller in a Communications class we called COW (I can’t remember the acronym!), and I think I gave the first persuasive speech of my life, which I still remember was about the speed limit on Rt. 30 – the topic was influenced by Mr. Miller because he heard me griping about it! To this day, I remember his insight that persuasive speeches are best when you yourself have a strong opinion on the subject! Anyway, what a profound loss, as Mr. Miller was truly a wonderful and unique person, who brought so much character and energy to everything he did – you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Laura Hershey Brubaker, class of 1999, Lancaster Mennonite
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Mr. Miller was truly a blessing to me, teaching me all the fundamentals of singing while I was a student at Lancaster Mennonite High. I am still pursuing a singing career which I would not be able to attain without his guidance and wisdom. Whenever I was back in the area, I would stop in and say hi to him and he was always so happy to see me, and the feelings were mutual! He also taught me about acting and was one of just a handful of supporters of my sister’s and my Irish Dancing while at LMH. He will truly be missed by not only myself but so many other lives that he touched! Thank you!
Rachael Rogers Shaffer
LMH – 1997-2000
Thank you for letting all of us students get to spend part of our lives with Mr. Miller. John was instrumental in inspiring me to pursue theater and performing arts. I will always keep his memory in a special place in my heart. I can’t even begin to fathom the number of lives that he’s touched, but I know that each of them are better for it.
My sincerest condolences for your loss.
R. Alburn Binkley
Student at Lancaster Mennonnite High School, 1997-2001.
I wish I could be a part of the choir this Saturday, but I’m finishing up a term with MCC in Laos. I was thinking back on my time in high school in Campus Chorale with John as director, and I remembered that my first overseas experience was going to Eastern Europe with him. In that way, he got me started on my love of other cultures, and I probably would never have come to Laos if I hadn’t had that experience at a young age. He greatly affected his students, more than we ever realized at the time.
Prayers for your family during this time, especially Helen.
Sincerely,
Ariel Ressler
Dear Helen and family,
I was saddened by the news of John’s passing. I remember fondly an LP of John singing traditional Mennonite and other hymns that I obtained from Helen in the 9th grade and that I played frequently in my high school years. (John’s rendition of "In Dir ist Freude" makes that one of my favorite hymns to this day.) Please accept my condolences.
Sincerely,
Ray Fisher
Dear Helen and family, I was saddened and shocked to read of John’s untimely passing. I will always have good memories of music making with him and under his direction. One of the earliest is of the Chamber Singers of Lancaster rehearsing in your family room. I regret that I will be unable to attend the Memorial Service on Saturday evening. May you be blessed by wonderful memories, the love of family and friends and your faith.
Sincerely, Joan Fyock Norris
Helen, Wendell, and Frances,
It was with great sadness that we have followed the unexpected misfortune which has blindsided your family. I appreciated John as a coteacher for the 6 1/2 years I taught at Lancaster Mennonite. I will remember his high expectations for students, his wonderful off kilter humor, and his practical no nonsense way of looking at the world. I will hold you in my thoughts and prayers as you walk through this valley.
Lee Good
I’ll miss John! Helen, I know that you are surrounded by many wonderful friends and your children right now. But I’m hoping that the Lord, in His graciousness, is also making His Presence very real to you right now. Without a doubt, John is already taking his place as a conductor and stage director in the Eternal Choir and Drama Department.
In Christ’s Peace,
Ken & Patricia Reed
Milpitas, CA
Deepest sympathy to you and your family. May your faith sustain and comfort you in your sorrow.
~Jalisa Weber Gingrich
Former Locust Grove student ’80-’82
My thoughts and prayers are with the Miller family. I have the fondest memories of Mr. Miller. He was my high school music teacher for several years at Rosslyn Academy in Nairobi, Kenya. Mr. Miller is responsible for kindling a love and appreciation of music in me. He helped me find my voice.
God Bless the Millers.
