Edith “JoAnn” Miller, 87, passed away peacefully on August 12, 2026, from complications of COPD.
JoAnn was born on April 16, 1939, on a farm in Pawnee County, Kansas, to Verna (Schreiber) Wilson and Frank Wilson. She was the second oldest of six children. In 1951, her family moved to Hutchinson, Kansas.
JoAnn graduated from Hutchinson High School and began her working career in Accounts Receivable at Pegues Store in Hutchinson. She later served as secretary at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church for 12 years.
JoAnn married Robert Miller at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on December 28, 1957. She converted to Catholicism and remained a devout Catholic throughout the rest of her life. Her faith was a central part of who she was and how she lived her life.
At the age of 52, JoAnn attended college for the first time. She graduated from McPherson College with an Associate of Science in Nursing degree, finishing at the top of her class. She went on to work as an LPN Charge Nurse at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Hutchinson until retiring at age 65. Retirement did not keep JoAnn from serving others, however. She continued working at St. Teresa’s and Holy Cross After School Program until the age of 75.
JoAnn had a generous heart and enjoyed volunteering. She was a longtime volunteer for Birthright and was active in St. Teresa’s Altar Society and many other church activities.
JoAnn loved to travel. Yellowstone and Cuchara, Colorado, held special places in her heart. She also treasured a trip to Europe and was especially moved by a tour of the beaches of Normandy, France. JoAnn loved history and could readily bend your ear with her knowledge and enthusiasm, particularly when it came to World War II and the Civil War.
In October 2021, a health crisis gave JoAnn the opportunity to move to Assisted Living at Catholic Care Center in Wichita. There, she made many friends among the residents and staff. She especially loved her time at Catholic Care Center due to being spiritually nourished by daily Mass, weekly Rosaries, and the presence of a variety of Catholic priests and sisters throughout the years.
JoAnn is survived by her son, Monte Miller (Denise) of Greenville, NC; daughter Michelle Davis (John) of Wichita; sister Janet (Dennis) Fischer of Hutchinson; brothers Steve (Kathy) Wilson of Hutchinson and Glenn LaVerne (Carolyn) of Lyndon, KS; and many beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Verna Wilson; and her brothers, Franklin Wayne Wilson and Harold Wilson.
The Rosary will be held at St. Elizabeth’s Chapel at Catholic Care Center, 6800 E. 45th St. North, Bel Aire, KS 67226, on Tuesday, August 18, at 9:00 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 9:30 a.m.
Burial will follow at 12:30 p.m. at Fairlawn Burial Park in Hutchinson, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Teresa’s Catholic Church or the Kansas Humane Society, in care of Hutchinson Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 300 E. 30th Ave., Hutchinson, KS 67502.
JoAnn’s life was one of faith, service, family, learning, and love. She leaves behind a legacy of devotion to her Catholic faith, compassion for others, and a lifelong curiosity about the world and its history. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.