Jerome Joseph Miller Obituary

Jerome “Jerry” Joseph Miller

January 6, 1941 – October 10, 2025

Jerome Joseph Miller, known to all as Jerry, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2025, at the age of 84. Born in Seattle, Washington, to Frank and Josephine (Giblin) Miller, Jerry was one of seven children in a close and loving family. He is preceded in death by his parents and by siblings Wilma, Paul, Monica, Cecilia, and Bernard, and is survived by his brother Myron (Tom) Miller.

Baptized into the Catholic faith in 1948, Jerry carried that faith throughout his life as a longtime parishioner of Holy Family Church in Auburn. After graduating from Auburn High School in 1960, he began a degree in electrical engineering but stopped to answer the call to serve his country by enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1963. During four years of honorable service, including two years in Vietnam onboard the destroyer USS Fletcher (DD-445), he specialized in radar and electronics repair. He earned the rank of E-5 and received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.

After his military service, Jerry returned to college and earned a degree in Business Administration and began a long career with Bell Telephone (later AT&T), retiring in the early 2000s. Jerry enjoyed camping and adventures and had fond memories of a deep-sea submarine ride, a deep-sea fishing trip, and a helicopter ride over an active volcano in Hawaii.

He also pursued his passion for real estate, owning and managing vacation homes, rental properties and undeveloped land across Washington, Arizona, and Hawaii. For many years, Jerry generously shared his vacation homes with family and friends, gifting them wonderful memories full of love and laughter. He even forgave his niece when she and some friends accidentally scorched part of his back deck at one of his vacation homes. Jerry treated his tenants with fairness and compassion, resulting in many former tenants becoming lifelong friends.

In retirement, Jerry stayed active with home improvements and construction-related work. He was an exceptional handyman and could build or repair just about anything. Though he never married, he remained deeply devoted to his family and especially treasured his bond with Nathan Olson, whom he loved as his own son.

In later years, Jerry resided in an Adult Family Home, where he received attentive care and continued to enjoy visits from family and friends. He loved watching old Westerns and especially enjoyed visits that included delivery of his favorite treats (chocolate chip cookies and Tillamook Mountain Huckleberry ice cream).

Jerry will be remembered for his quiet strength, generosity, and steadfast independence—a life marked by faith, service, and love of family.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 25810 156th Ave SE, Covington, WA 98042, on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Military honors and interment will follow at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th St. Kent WA 98042 at 2:30 p.m.

May he rest in peace.