John James Miller Jr.

John was 89 when he passed peacefully from this life – holding the hand of his daughter Laura and his faithful dog Katie close to his side on Aug 30th, 2022, at the Home Away from Home care facility in Tucson, AZ. 

John was predeceased by his loving wife Gladys, his parents, Mildred and John Miller, and his sister Lynda.  John is survived by his 2 daughters, Laura Galland and Theresa Sala, 4 sons – John, Michael, Joseph, and Steve, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins. 

As a young child John was a prankster, always telling jokes and getting into trouble to the point that his mom Mildred sent him to military school to learn some discipline. Mildred would often tell this story laughing saying that it seemed to have worked. 

John enlisted in the Navy on his 17th birthday, June 30, 1950, serving our country during the Korean War until discharged on April 16, 1954.  John served as a communication specialist aboard the USS Oriskany out of the US Naval facility in Okinawa, Japan. John received the National Defense Medal, the United Nations Service Award, and the Korean Service Ribbon with 2 stars.  

After John’s honorable discharge from the Navy as Petty Officer 3rd class TE3 in 1954, John commenced ministry college while raising his young family. During this time John also worked at Kaiser Steel, Santa Fe Railroad, and the US Post Office.  John later entered civil service with Ford Aerospace in Hawaii.  John’s love for the Word of God continued to grow and he went on to pastor churches in Southern California, Washington State, Hawaii, and Guam. 

John retired from full time ministry in 1998, when he and Gladys moved to Tucson, Arizona.  John volunteered with the Tucson Eastside Neighbors Volunteer program, soon taking the position of program coordinator.  As program coordinator, John assisted in facilitation of the first Neighbors Care Program, working closely with Pima Council on Aging and the United Way.  John’s training and service in the U.S. Navy gave him discipline to serve with a deep concern and appreciation for people of all nations, especially to those in distress or need. John’s ministry was embedded in his heart and his service to others was reflective of the lifestyle in which he lived – a life of faith guided by Jesus. The lives John impacted through his ministry throughout his lifetime are many and always remained very precious to him.  

John will be sorely missed by so many.  We will cherish every memory of our Dad, Grandpa and friend. We will remember his godly example and try to emulate this in some way. But above all, we will praise the God of grace who saved him, the Lord Jesus who went to heaven to prepare a place for John, welcoming him with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” 

For John’s friends that remain in the area and those that live away, may this obituary ignite fond memories of John who is smiling down upon us, hoping that we respect each other and take a moment to say hello and mind our manners just like he always did.  

We are proud to have Dad as our father who helped to shape us into stronger and better human beings. We will never forget his loving and witty ways. As long as we remember a person they are not really gone because their thoughts, feelings and memory become a part of us. 

Please join in a celebration of his life and commitment with honors, as he and his wife are laid to rest together.  As they were in life, so they continue to be in death.