Thomas Miller
June 22nd, 1941 - February 12th, 2024
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Thomas's Obituary
Thomas Jerome Miller passed away peacefully on Monday, February 12, 2024. He was born on June 22, 1941, to Francis and Ella (Bullock) Miller in St. Joseph, Michigan.
Thomas graduated from St. Joseph Catholic High school in 1959. He loved sports and participated in numerous teams. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He graduated from St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, Indiana with a major in education, Western Michigan University with a master’s degree in counseling and Michigan State University with a specialist degree in administration.
Thomas impacted numerous lives in his 40 years in education. Thirteen years were spent in the catholic school system as a teacher, counselor and coach at Monroe Catholic Central, Battle Creek St. Phillips and Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Twenty-seven years were in the public school system as an administrator at New Buffalo and St. Joseph High Schools. He retired as Principal of St. Joseph High School. He was instrumental in establishing an alternative education program at St. Joseph High School and considered this one of his most impactful accomplishments in education. His career ended as a volunteer coach at Bridgman High School for 10 additional years.
Thomas enjoyed poker with his friends, captaining his boat, watching the Fighting Irish, Detroit Lions, Detroit Tigers and his high school teams. He loved interacting with all his work colleagues who he considered friends. Tom would like you to raise a glass of Miller Lite in his honor.
Thomas was also a caregiver and supported many family members as they aged. He will be missed by his wife, children and grandchildren whom he always loved and supported.
Thomas was preceded in death by his parents, his aunt, Fern Jensen and uncle, Wesley Jensen; his stepfather, Richard Krause; his sister, Marilyn Gregory and her spouse Douglas Gregory; his in-laws, Harold and Margaret Grieger; and grandparents, Frank and Pearl Bullock, Valeria and Christian Miller.
Thomas is survived by his loving wife of 61 years Mary Lou Miller; sister, Carolyn Crook and spouse Ken of Prattville, Alabama; sister-in-law, Joan Grieger of Battle Creek, Michigan; stepsister, Linda (Jerry) Sparks of Na’Aleu, Hawaii. His children, Maria Miller of Stockbridge, Michigan, Mark Miller of Lakewood, Colorado and Mike (Sue) Miller of Bridgman, Michigan. His grandchildren, Izabella Mastroianni of Rockville, Maryland, Lauren (Mathew) Moore of Holt, Michigan, Ben Doane of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, Shannon (Nick) Woerdehoff of Bridgman, Michigan, Heather (Tom) Miller-Edwardson of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Ashley (Josh) Schlump of Maple City, Michigan. His great-granddaughters, Viviene, Amelia and Payton; and his 5 nieces and nephews.
The Miller family is very grateful for the assistance of family, friends, neighbors and caregivers during this time.
A Catholic Funeral Service will be held 11:00AM, Monday, February 19 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI 49085. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, from 10:00 – 11:00AM. Burial to take place at Riverview Cemetery. Please feel free to share a memory with the family online at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Thomas graduated from St. Joseph Catholic High school in 1959. He loved sports and participated in numerous teams. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He graduated from St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, Indiana with a major in education, Western Michigan University with a master’s degree in counseling and Michigan State University with a specialist degree in administration.
Thomas impacted numerous lives in his 40 years in education. Thirteen years were spent in the catholic school system as a teacher, counselor and coach at Monroe Catholic Central, Battle Creek St. Phillips and Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Twenty-seven years were in the public school system as an administrator at New Buffalo and St. Joseph High Schools. He retired as Principal of St. Joseph High School. He was instrumental in establishing an alternative education program at St. Joseph High School and considered this one of his most impactful accomplishments in education. His career ended as a volunteer coach at Bridgman High School for 10 additional years.
Thomas enjoyed poker with his friends, captaining his boat, watching the Fighting Irish, Detroit Lions, Detroit Tigers and his high school teams. He loved interacting with all his work colleagues who he considered friends. Tom would like you to raise a glass of Miller Lite in his honor.
Thomas was also a caregiver and supported many family members as they aged. He will be missed by his wife, children and grandchildren whom he always loved and supported.
Thomas was preceded in death by his parents, his aunt, Fern Jensen and uncle, Wesley Jensen; his stepfather, Richard Krause; his sister, Marilyn Gregory and her spouse Douglas Gregory; his in-laws, Harold and Margaret Grieger; and grandparents, Frank and Pearl Bullock, Valeria and Christian Miller.
Thomas is survived by his loving wife of 61 years Mary Lou Miller; sister, Carolyn Crook and spouse Ken of Prattville, Alabama; sister-in-law, Joan Grieger of Battle Creek, Michigan; stepsister, Linda (Jerry) Sparks of Na’Aleu, Hawaii. His children, Maria Miller of Stockbridge, Michigan, Mark Miller of Lakewood, Colorado and Mike (Sue) Miller of Bridgman, Michigan. His grandchildren, Izabella Mastroianni of Rockville, Maryland, Lauren (Mathew) Moore of Holt, Michigan, Ben Doane of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, Shannon (Nick) Woerdehoff of Bridgman, Michigan, Heather (Tom) Miller-Edwardson of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Ashley (Josh) Schlump of Maple City, Michigan. His great-granddaughters, Viviene, Amelia and Payton; and his 5 nieces and nephews.
The Miller family is very grateful for the assistance of family, friends, neighbors and caregivers during this time.
A Catholic Funeral Service will be held 11:00AM, Monday, February 19 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI 49085. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, from 10:00 – 11:00AM. Burial to take place at Riverview Cemetery. Please feel free to share a memory with the family online at www.starks-menchinger.com.
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