Obituary of Rev. William Donald Miller

DOLGEVILLE -- Rev. W. Donald MacDuff Miller, 83, of 5 Cline Street, Dolgeville, passed away Wednesday morning, February 12, 2014, at Folts Home, Herkimer, where he had been a resident since April 12, 2013. He was born on April 24, 1930, in Glendale, California, the son of the late Rev. Paul Luther and Marian Laura (Gaddis) Miller. Donald was a graduate of McKinley High School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Concordia Jr. College, St. Paul, Minnesota; Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, Illinois; and Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary, Maywood, Illinois. He was united in marriage to his wife of 55 years, the former Shirley Anne Van Gelder, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, St. Albans, New York on June 29, 1958. Pastor Miller was ordained at Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, LaGrange, Indiana, on May 18, 1958. He served as pastor of Mt. Zion, LaGrange; Lord of Life Lutheran Church, East Indianapolis, Indiana; St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hudson, and St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Churchtown , NY; First Presbyterian and Zion Lutheran Churches, Dolgeville, NY; and Concordia Lutheran Church, Kendall, NY. He was named Pastor Emeritus of United Lutheran Presbyterian Parish, Dolgeville, on October 25, 1998. Donald was a man of compassion, humility, gentleness, creativity, self-discipline, integrity and courage. He loved the Lord and lived a life of service to God’s people through his calling as a pastor and teacher, and through his volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, CROP, Rotary, and Hospice of Orleans County. He had a love of art and of the natural world, and an openness to seeing beauty in its many forms. He was never too far from a book and he loved walking in the out-of-doors. His pastimes over the years included birding, botany, drawing, sculpting and photography. Donald was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, pastor and friend. He gave his love fully and was fully loved in return. He is irreplaceable and will be deeply missed. He is survived by his loving wife Shirley, daughters Anne Elise Kopp and her husband Fred, East Aurora, NY; Ruth Lynne Miller and her husband Stephen Moles, Silver Spring, MD; brothers John Miller and his wife Nancy, Papillion, NE; Karl Miller and his wife Karen, Tucson, AZ; a sister Ariel Shadoan and her husband James, Cadillac, MI; three grandchildren Nathaniel and Rebekah Kopp and Isaac Miller Moles, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers Paul and Bernard Miller and a sister Marian Roisen. Donald’s family would like to express appreciation to the many kind and compassionate caregivers at Folts Home who cared for him throughout this past year. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church, 443 Henry Street, Herkimer, with the Rev. Ann Zimmerman officiating. Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects at Trinity Lutheran Church prior to the service from 9:30-11:00 AM and to attend the service that follows. Interment will take place in Dolgeville Cemetery at the convenience of the family in the spring. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Donald’s memory to Trinity Lutheran Church, 443 Henry Street, Herkimer, NY; United Lutheran Presbyterian Parish, 26 East Faville Ave., Dolgeville, NY; or the ELCA Hunger Appeal, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL., 60694-1764 Arrangements are by the Chapman-Moser Funeral Home, Inc., 42 N. Ann Street, Little Falls, NY.