Oscar Miller passed away very peacefully on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at Heritage Village in his 89th year with his family at his side.
Oscar will be lovingly remembered by his family and friends which include his five children: Shirley (William) Davis, Doreen (Carl) Norum, Dan Miller and (Starla Shaver), Elaine (Dave) Ellis, Marilyn (Martin) McGrath; grandchildren Will (Shanda) Davis, Clara (Greg) Hooper, Raymond Norum, Roy Norum (Sheryl Dyck), Russell Norum, Carie Purdy, Shaun Miller, Taylor Miller, Mitch (Jody) Ellis, Jay (Jolene) Ellis, Richard McGrath (Chelsi Graitson) Dayna (Jeff) Mottishaw, Amanda McGrath (Liam Hill); great grandchildren Ben Hooper, Grant Hooper, Blake Davis, Ty Davis, Jace Ellis and his sister Lillian.
He was predeceased by his wife Frieda (2002) of 55 years, daughter-in-law, Shirleyann Miller (2005) and his parents.
Oscar was born in Romania on December 22, 1919, to John and Eva Miller and came to Canada when he was 10 years old. In 1940, when dad was 21, he was called to the Army and served
4 ½ years, being stationed in Brandon, Manitoba. After the war he moved with his parents and sister to Chilliwack, BC. While attending church, he met his lifetime partner, Frieda. They married in 1947 and were married 55 years before her passing.
Dad and Mom were very active in the Zion Evangelical Church for many years where Dad was an active trustee, willingly helping at the church and Charis Camp.
Dad was a truck driver at heart and started working at Buckerfields in 1946. He worked there for 35 years. During this time he also worked at the warehouse at Cheam and Young Road, loading feed sacks for customers into their vehicles, always willing to chat and listen to their stories. To so many people, this is the memory they have of Oscar. During this time he also drove truck for Spring Bank Vita Grass and Gulf Oil. Dad was a very hard worker and had a busy schedule, coming home from Buckerfields to a barn full of cows to milk and a house full of kids to feed.
When Dad retired at 65, he climbed Mt. Cheam with family and friends. It’s at this time he also discovered bar fishing in the Fraser, and it soon became his passion. Travelling and camping were also part of Dad’s pastimes.
During his last years at Heritage Village, Dad remained the calm, gentle man to all the care staff who so patiently and lovingly cared for him. Thank you so much to all the great staff at Heritage Village.
A celebration of Oscar’s life will be held at 1:30 pm, on Friday December 19, 2008, at the Evangelical Missionary Church on the corner of Princess Avenue and Williams Street in Chilliwack, A reception will follow.
If desired, donations to honour Oscar may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of BC, #300, 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1E2.
Online condolences can be left at www.mem.com