Dean M Miller

Dean M. Miller of Kearney, longtime Cozad resident, went to be with his Lord on June 21, 2017 at the age of 78.  He was born on May 16, 1939 in Gothenburg, NE to Frank and Rose Miller.  After a brief move to California, they moved back to Nebraska, where Dean graduated from Cozad High School in 1958.  He enjoyed and excelled in sports, winning many state and conference awards.  After High School, he attended Kearney State College and was in the Army Reserve for seven years being stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas as a mechanic.  After returning to Cozad and working for his father in his grocery store, he met his wife DeLoris, a local First Grade Teacher.  They married in 1965.  He took ownership of the Miller’s Market grocery store with his brother.  He grew it to what was later called Food Town, which eventually was owned only by him.  As a business owner in Cozad for over 45 years, he was instrumental in Cozad’s growth by hiring many employees and giving opportunities to grow within the store’s business.  He was a very giving and caring employer who, for many years, threw Christmas parties where all members of the employee’s family received a Christmas gift.  He had a unique gift of striking up a conversation with anyone, even strangers, and making them feel right at home.  He was an active Jaycee member who always contributed to community activities.  He was generous as a business owner to any club or organization needing donations.  During his 62 years in Cozad, he was one of the original members of the Cozad Elks Lodge and of the Cozad Country Club.  He was an active member of the American Lutheran Church and served as a council member.  More recently, he and DeLoris moved to Kearney to be closer to family.  Over the years, he enjoyed activities such as fishing, golfing and water skiing, where he was talented in trick skiing backwards.  He and DeLoris loved traveling overseas and throughout the United States.  He was a captivating, quick-witted human being with a great sense of humor, who had a love of hard work as an entrepreneur and a huge love of family and friends.  Dean is survived by his wife of 51 years, DeLoris; two sons and their spouses, Nathan and Tiffany Miller, and Shawn and Angela Miller and a daughter and her spouse, Amy and Dale Fahnholz; and five grandchildren Grace, Jaden and Sydney Miller and Bryan and Jack Fahnholz.  Survived by two sisters and their husbands, Jane and Karl Rohman, of Lincoln and Judy and Paul Norblade, of Kearney and sister-in-law, Judy Miller of Omaha.  Each family member was blessed to have him as a role model and celebrate the love he brought to us.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Rose Miller; sister, Adelle Griffis, and brothers, Richard Miller and Phillip Miller.  Memorials are suggested to American Lutheran Church in Cozad or Adullam Lutheran Church in Bertrand.  Online condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com.  Services will be held Monday, June 26, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the American Lutheran Church with Pastor Terry Tomlinson officiating.  Burial will be at Adullam Lutheran Church Cemetery near Bertrand.  Visitation will be Sunday, June, 25, 2017 from 5 to 8 with family receiving friends from 5 to 7 at Berryman Funeral Home.