Irvin W. Miller

Irvin W. Miller, 93, of Aurora, Colorado, passed away peacefully in Aurora on February 19, 2017. Irvin was born to Harvey and Iva Miller on January 24, 1924 in northeast Kansas in the small town of Robinson. Robinson is 5 miles from Hiawatha on Hwy 36, 15 miles south of Fall City, Nebraska. Irvin and his twin brother Ivan were delivered by their house doctor in their home. They were born on a 240 acre farm with 150 head of ewes, also known as adult female sheep, 20 head of cattle, 20 head of hogs, 6 horses, 3 dogs and a dozen cats! So their family was already large and ready for the extra help. Irvin had one older and younger brother, each with 8 years difference in age. Irvin explained that growing up on the farm was a rough life but a good life. The boys were expected to cut wood, feed cattle, and take care of the 200 chickens their mother had since they were chicks. They also had 20 stands of honey bees from which they collected honey. When Irvin started grade school, he and his brother would walk 1 1/2 miles each way. Then in high school they would ride 2.9 miles to get to school, but they were together and that was all that mattered. Irvin felt that they were ""just like two puppy dogs, where one went the other went."" Irvin was drafted into the army at age 22 and served for 17 months. He trained at Fort Leonard Wood and was then sent to the Philippines and South Korea. Irvin and his brother had jobs in the Soil Conservation Service Department with the United States Department of Agriculture. They built flood control dams together. The largest dam they built, located at a Boy Scout Ranch in Sedan, Kansas was 77 feet tall. There are multiple monuments in Kansas with their names on the dams. Irvin was married twice. With his first wife he had two children, who are currently living in Sterling, Colorado and Bernalillo, New Mexico. He met his second wife through a co-worker's sister who had a friend named Iris. Iris and Irvin were married for 45 years and they were the best of friends. Irvin moved to Colorado 7 years ago. You could count on him giving a helpful hand at the assisted living facility and making sure things were running smoothly. He was a happy man, always willing to help by checking on burnt light bulbs or fixing weak railings. Irvin is preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Iva Miller, his brothers Boyd, Ivan (twin brother), and Byron; his second wife Iris; and his grandson Christian. He is survived by his son Steve (Sharon), daughter Shari, grandson Steven, and sister-in-law Louise. A Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 7, 10:00am at Sutton Memorial Funeral Home, 1701 Sycamore Avenue, Kingman, Arizona, 86409. A Graveside Service will follow at 11:00am at Chloride Cemetery in Chloride, Arizona. Military honors will be rendered by the United States Army. Please share memories of Irvin and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook below.