Christopher E. Miller
1953 - 2021
Christopher E. Miller, 67, of Newton,
Kansas passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on
March 23, 2021. Chris was born July 22, 1953 in Kansas City, Missouri
to Eugene B. (Gene) and Merle Dean (DeDe Blacker) Miller.
In 1960, the family moved to Salina, KS
to manage the Kansas City Star newspaper route. Chris had fond
memories of helping his father with the paper route throughout the
years. At the age of 11, Chris began playing the bugle for the Salina
Drum and Bugle Corps, which later became The Silver Sabres. He was a
member of the corp from 1964 -1973. Chris made lifelong friends and
would often retell stories of his long bus trips and marching in
Mardi Gras in 1964.
Chris graduated high school from Salina
Central High School, in 1971. He also attended Marymount College in
Salina and Kansas State University in Manhattan. Chris began work at
Wilson & Co and later Bucher & Willis in Salina as an
electrical draftsman.
On August 23, 1975 he married Rita M.
Strecker in Salina. After moving his family to Newton, KS in 1981,
Chris began work as an electrical engineer consultant for which 30 of
those years was for Johnson Engineering, Wichita. In 2016, Chris was
ready to ease into retirement and began working for Engineering
Consultants, Hutchinson, KS part time.
Chris is known for his quick wit and
one liners, he loved to make people laugh. Chris had many things he
enjoyed doing. His first love was spending time with family and
cooking for them on his smoker and playing cards or a board game. In
his free time you could find him tinkering in his shop, involved in a
woodworking project or helping his kids with a project. Chris also
enjoyed working in the yard and garden. He made the best salsa, the
hotter the better.
He is survived by his wife, Rita, and
their three children, Jessica Senn and husband Shane of Newton;
Samuel and wife Alena of Wichita; Oliver and wife Sarah of Newton;
stepson Ryan Tetirick of CA; and six grandchildren. He is also
survived by three sisters; Sherry (John) Peterson of Phoenix, AZ;
Jenni (Brian) Holdsworth of Lindsborg, KS and Tami (Kerry) Hardinger
of Milford, N.H. and many nieces and nephews.
Chris was preceded in death by his
parents Eugene B. and Merle Dean Miller.
Funeral Service will be held at Trinity
Heights United Methodist Church, 1200 Boyd Ave, Newton, Friday, April
9th, at 11:00 am. with Paster Donna Voteau presiding.
The family requests that attendants
wear a mask and be mindful of social distancing. The service will
also be streamed on Zoom for those unable to attend. There will be no
visitation as cremation is planned.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests
memorials to Trinity Heights United Methodist Church or Good Shepherd
Hospice both in care of Peterson Funeral Home, 215 North Main Street,
Newton, Kansas, 67114
1953 - 2021 (67 years)