Obituary of JOHN MARTIN MILLER

JOHN MARTIN MILLER

John passed away suddenly on March 10, 2023, at his home after a five-year courageous battle with lung disease.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 50 years, Brenda, his son Brian (Gabrielle), his daughter Angela (Shane Desjardins), his precious granddaughter Anna Miller, his sister Lori Regnier (Rene), his sister-in-law Suzanne Schrofel, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, John and Magdalene Miller.

John was born in Austria on December 16, 1949 and arrived in Canada at Pier 21 in Halifax with his parents and sister when he was just 3 years old. He grew up in north Winnipeg and West Kildonan. He attended the University of Manitoba, floundering at first before finding the newly created Computer Science program. While at university, he met Brenda whose best friend was dating John’s best friend. Powered by the love of his life and his love of programming, he moved into the working world.   

After graduation, he was hired by Richardson Securities (later Richardson Greenshields) where he worked for more than 20 years, as a programmer and later as a systems analyst. Thereafter he worked for a series of software development companies and finally Wawanesa Insurance. After retirement in 2010, he found part-time work at Lee Valley Tools where he met a whole new group of friends while being immersed in gadgets for his next passion – woodturning. He was a talented turner, producing pens from all types of materials, and objects like segmented bowls and captured ring goblets. Logs would light up his eyes and fill his head with ideas for a new project.

John and Brenda loved the outdoors and travelling – summers at Falcon Lake, downhill skiing in the Rockies and at Whistler, many road trips east and west with the children and a tent. In more recent years, they made repeat visits to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia and many trips to see their besties in B.C., Cathy and Michael. Their journeys took them to Europe (pre-children), and in later life, to Australia, Cuba, Italy and Costa Rica.

John participated in curling for many years –curling with his father while in his 20’s, joining work leagues, and ultimately curling with son Brian for many seasons. He particularly treasured his time on the ice with Brian.

He was a quiet man, stoic and uncomplaining even as his lung condition began to interfere with so many of the things he had loved to do. But, by any standard, his life was full of blessings. He departed before his condition deprived him of independence and the simple joys of visits and dinners with family and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Christ the King Church, 847 St. Mary’s Road, on Friday, March 24, at 11:30 A.M.

Sincere thanks to the Palliative Care program, especially Sean who visited regularly. In honour of John, please consider a donation to the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. At present, there is inadequate research into the causes and treatments for this debilitating terminal illness that affects 30,000 Canadians.