Joan Miller

Joan Ione Miller passed away, surrounded by loving family at 6:00 PM Wednesday afternoon March 18th, 2026, at the age of 94.

Joan was born in Austin, MN on September 7, 1931, to August and Eleanor Perau. She was the second of eight children. She attended school in Toeterville and St. Ansgar, Iowa and graduated from St. Ansgar High School in 1949. Joan played softball, was a member of the marching band playing saxophone, and was involved in many other high school activities. Throughout high school Joan worked at the local soda fountain. One of Joan’s many activities included roller skating. It was at the rink, in nearby Osage, Iowa, that she met Oral Miller on February 11th, 1950. Seven months later, on September 3, 1950, they were married. For two long years Oral would serve in the Korean War and upon his return, Joan and Oral started a family and had four children, David, Nancy, Betty and Bob, that they raised while working on farms in Iowa and Minnesota. In October 1962 they moved west to Wyoming, living a short time in Douglas and then moving to Casper in 1963 where Joan has lived for the last 63 years. It was here where her 5th child, Cyndi, was born.

In 1972, Joan went to work at Poison Spider School where she spent 23 years. She had many roles; secretary, nurse, aide, playground enforcer 😊, activities organizer, mom, grandma, you name it she did it. In 1995 she retired only to be busier as GRAMMA JO. Always happy to take care of grandchildren, playing board games and baking treats.

A person does not exist in this world that has a bad thing to say about Joan. She was always happy or at least tried to be no matter what the situation. She always tried to find the good in people. Outside of her never ending love of family, working in her yard, vegetable garden and flower gardens were her passion. If she wasn’t working in the house, she’d be working in her yard.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents August and Eleanor, stepdad Oscar, brother Franklin, Sister Eleanor, grandson Scott and great grandson Milo. She is survived by her children: David (Nancy) of Powell, WY, Nancy Waters (Ken), Betty Birkle (Dale), Bob (Susi) and Cyndi, all of Casper as well as nine grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Wyoming Dementia Care, 907 N. Poplar, Suite 186, Casper, WY 82601.