Nova Jean Miller

Nova Jean Miller, age 74 of Pigeon, passed away Friday, May 27, 2011 at home.
Born on July 14, 1936 in Bay Port, she was the daughter of the late Joseph L. and Orpha V. (Stevanus) Wertz, and was a 1954 graduate of Eastern Mennonite High School in Harrisonburg, Virginia. On December 30, 1955, she and Durward H. "Butch" Miller were married at the Pigeon River Mennonite Church in Pigeon. Butch preceded her in death on May 1, 2011, after 55 years of marriage.
Nova Jean was a member of the Pigeon River Mennonite Church and served on the food committee for many years. She started the Bible Memory Program, listening to children's Bible memory verses. Nova Jean had a passion for quilting and enjoyed her church sewing circle. She was a tireless volunteer with the Top of the Thumb Leisure Ministries, as well as Pigeon Meals on Wheels, Laker Athletic Boosters and the Northern Michigan Mennonite Relief Sale. She was a faithful servant to her church, family, community, and a surrogate mother to many. Nova Jean and Butch were the inaugural "Friends of Youth", for the Thumb Meet of Champions, representing Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Lakers. For many years, she worked in the office of J & B Plumbing & Heating, which she and Butch owned and operated until retiring in 2001. It was her prayer to care for her husband through his journey, and now she has peacefully joined him. They are holding hands, as they always did, together in heaven.
Nova Jean is survived by three children, Margie Clement of Broadway, Virginia, Sheldon & Jeanie Miller of Dryden, and Darlene & David Hoffman of Augusta, Georgia; seven grandchildren: Paige, Joe, Dan, Gabe, Davis, Emilee, and Mariah; a sister, Ramona Wertz Mahler of Elkhart, Indiana; sisters-in-law, Ruby Wertz of Goshen, Indiana, Floris Wertz of Bay Port, Nellie (Robert) Steider of Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania, Juanita (Clair) Marner of Shipshewana, Indiana, and Marilyn (John) Yoder of Wellman, Iowa; a brother-in-law, Ed (Marlene) Miller of Meadville, Pennsylvania; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Willard Wertz, R. Dale Wertz, and Donald Wertz; brother-in-law, Charles Mahler; sister-in-law, Louise Miller; and nephew, Rodney Wertz.
The Funeral Service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 2, 2011 at the Pigeon River Mennonite Church, Pigeon, with Rev. Alvin Yoder, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to Pigeon River Mennonite Church , Pigeon Meals on Wheels, or the charity of donor's choice.

VISITATION AT PIGEON RIVER MENNONITE CHURCH, PIGEON:
Wednesday, June 1 2:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 2 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m.