Rosemary Miller

Rosemary L. Miller, age 86 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 9:57 p.m. on Monday, September 19, 2016 at West Woods of Niles following an extended illness.

She was born on February 28, 1930 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Raymond Theodore and Aileen Yvonne (Parker) Ernst. She was graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School, and has lived in Niles since 1961. She was employed in the executive offices of the National-Standard Corporation in Niles, and the former Buchanan offices of Clark Equipment Company.

Rosemary was raised in Christian churches, and has continued to attend various churches. She was a member of the ladies auxiliary to the B.P.O. of Niles Elks #1322, and the auxiliary to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Mounted Division (Equestrian). As a young lady, she was active in area golf leagues, and more recently has enjoyed ceramics and other handcrafts, and reading novels.

She was married on February 8, 1986 at the Portage Prairie United Methodist Church in Niles to James “Gordon” Miller with whom she celebrated the twenty-eighth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on January 18, 2015. She was also preceded in death by her son, William “Bil” Runyan in 1985, a step-son, Jay Gordon Miller in 1988; and by Rosemary’s brothers, Paul Ernst, Duane Ernst, and Bruce Ernst.

Surviving family includes two children by her first husband, Carl “Jack” Runyan, Rod (& Kim) Runyan of Buda, Texas and Bonnie (& Dave) DeRidder of Elkton, Florida; step-daughters, Kathryn (& Joe) Antus of Osceola, Indiana and Linda L. Miller of Niles; grandchildren Kyle (& William) Norman, Brett Runyan, Robert Selbie, Tyler Selbie, Jeff Miller, Dan Denaut, Alycia Denaut, Ian Miller, Nicole Miller, Lacey (& Michael) Peters, Jay Wiemuth, and Chad Wiemuth; ten great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Rosemary Miller will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 23, 2016 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Cathi Huvaere of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Rosemary may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601.