Obituary of Donna M Miller

Donna M. (Scheetz) Miller, 92 lifelong resident of Iowa City passed away June 30th at Mercy Hospital under Hospice care.  Donna was a 72- year member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held there at a later date.

A Celebration of Life is being held at Legacy Ridge Independent Living at 1095 Silvercrest Circle, in Iowa City on Tuesday July 3rd from 4pm – 7pm.  A private family burial service will be held at Oakland cemetery in Iowa City.  In lieu of flowers Donna’s request that memorial donations be made in her memory to ST. Mary’s Catholic Church or to Iowa City Hospice. To share a thought, memory or condolence with her family please visit the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com

Donna Mae Scheetz was born May 23, 1926 in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of John J. and Adeline (Barry) Scheetz. She attended grade school at St. Patrick’s school and graduated from Iowa City High School with the class of 1944.  Donna grew up in a large family during the depression years and learned to work hard and enjoy the small things in life each day. After graduation she attended Iowa City Business College while working part time. She took a government test and worked for a time at the War Price and Ration Board. Many friends left Iowa City to go to Washington, DC searching for work, but Donna was offered a job at the local Ford Mercury Dealership. It was there that she met her future husband, Bert J. Miller. The couple were married July 28, 1946.

Bert and Donna enjoyed partnership in several businesses including Home Oil Company and 2-Mile Inn on the corner of Dodge St. and Iowa Ave., and a new Texaco Gas station. They moved to sunny California in 1962 and returned to Iowa City a year later.  Together they owned and operated Miller Brother Monuments, a family business established in 1876.

Donna, Bert, and their family enjoyed the outdoors, camping, boating, and vacationing.  They enjoyed traveling locally as well as taking many trips abroad.  After semi-retirement from the  Monument business, they were able to winter in Florida, Texas, and Arizona.  Bert passed away in 2010, and in 2015 Donna moved to Legacy Independent Living.  She made many friends and enjoyed activities there.  She always enjoyed having lunch dates with family and friends. Donna continued working part time with colleagues Lyndal, Dan, and Diane at Watts Vault and Monument. She retired last year at age 91. 

Donna claimed to have lived life well, and the simple things were most important to her. She always had a positive attitude, a smile on her face, and showing kindness to others was so very important to her.  

Survivors include her daughter, Nancy J. Duffner, of Coralville, Iowa; her son Bert Jay (Laura) Miller of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; and her son Randy M. (Lora) Miller of North Liberty Iowa.  She treasured her five grandchildren, Amber  (Tim) Fraser, Megan Duffner, Aspen Miller, Tyler Miller, and Anna Miller. She had 2 great grandchildren, Layla and Fallon Fraser.  Donna was preceded in death in by parents, husband Bert, son-in-law Pat Duffner, and 5 brothers and 4 sisters. 

She had several nieces, nephews, and special friends who were especially important to her: Travis and Marilyn Brown, Linda and Jerry Mitchell, John and Barb Kamp, Ron and Linda Alberhasky, Bette and Jerry Alberhasky, and Bev & Dean Miller. 

The family wants to thank the caring nurses and staff of Hospice for the care that they gave Donna.