John James "Jack" Miller Jr.

John James Miller, Jr. "Jack," 81, of 3335 Boat Club Rd, Belmont, NC, formerly of 5120 Drakes Main St., Drakes Branch, VA, and 727 Spooner Ave, Plainfield, NJ, died Monday, July 13, 2015 at home among family after an extended illness. Born September 23, 1933 in Metuchen, NJ, he was the son of the late John James Miller (Semnicke) and Alice LaVinia Skillman Bennett. After the death of his father, Jack's mother married Frederick W. Bennett and lived in Roselle, NJ. His parents were the owners of Bennett's Confectionary store where Jack often worked to help his parents. Jack went to St. Joseph's Elementary School, and graduated from Abraham Clark High School in Roselle in 1952. While in school he became a Boy Scout and was a member of the high school football and baseball teams. During his last high school summers Jack apprenticed with Bannan Electric Company. Upon graduation from high school he attended Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, WV for two years. During the summer of 1954 he enlisted in the United States Air Force, and in September went to training at Sampson Air Force Base in New York. After completing his training he was assigned to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois to attend Ground Radio Repair School. In the summer of 1955 Jack married Sylvia Heim. After graduation in October he was stationed in Iceland for a year. Upon his return to the states in 1956 he was assigned to Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, ME as a Ground Communications Equipment Repairman. In September 1958 he received an honorable discharge from the USAF and returned to civilian life. Because it was difficult to find a job in his chosen field as an Electrician, Jack took a job as custodian at St. Anne's Catholic Church and school in Garwood, NJ to support his family. In October 1959 he was again able to rejoin Bannan Electric, and after a period of time started working for Hexagon Electric Company in Roselle Park, NJ as a plant manager. After moving to Elizabeth Jack had the opportunity to join the electrician's union. He joined the maintenance staff of Commerce Clearing House in Clark, NJ, of which he became supervisor. He took an early retirement in 1992 and again became active in the electrical union from which he retired in 1996. In 1967 Jack moved his family to Plainfield, NJ. While there he became active in a number of school PTA's and the Foster Parents Association. In 1998 he retired to Drakes Branch, VA, and early in 2015 he relocated to Belmont. NC to be nearer to most of his children, but he remained an avid NY Yankees and NY Giants fan. He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Westfield, NJ and St. John's Lutheran Church in Farmville, VA. He served as a member of a number of church committees and activities in both churches, especially the position of Elder. Jack is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sylvia Heim Miller; 8 children: Karen Kijewski, John and Chris Miller, Lynn Martin, Albert and Samantha Miller, Karl and Tika Miller, George and Holly Miller, Theresa and Jack Gardner, and Bernadette and Frank Holman; 17 grandchildren: Edward and Vanessa Kijewski, Stephan Kijewski, John (Jack) Miller IV, Beth and Brooks Drennan, Jeffrey and Brooke Martin, Jennipher and Douglas McLaughlin-Williams, Jessica and Michael Martin, Faber Miller, Ethan Miller, Jocelyn Miller, Michaela Miller, Emily Miller, Sarah Miller, George (Rudy) Miller, Gabriel Miller, Jack Gardner, and James Gardner; 7 great-grandchildren: Ava Kijewski, Isabella Kijewski, Sabrina Kijewski, Kaela Kijewski, Julia Kijewski, Collin Martin, and Langston Drennan; and a sister, Beverly Bennett Lizzano and family of Easton, PA. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Adam Kijewski. A memorial service was held Saturday, August 22, 2015 at 2:00 pm at Holy Comforter Lutheran Church, Belmont, NC followed by a friendship gathering in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, Farmville, VA (http://stjohnsfarmville.org/index.shtml ); Redeemer Lutheran Church, Westfield, NJ (http://www.redeemerwestfield.com/donate-now ); or the National Kidney Foundation ( https://www.kidney.org/support ). Jack's favorite book of the Bible was James because he truly felt you need to live your faith, not just talk it, and to respect all people as God's creations. - -

Service Information

Saturday, August 22nd, 2015 2:00pm, Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter

Interment Details

Private