Nita Maye Miller

Nita M. Miller, 98, of Kalona, died peacefully on Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the East Union Mennonite Church north of Kalona. The service will be available via Livestream on the Beatty Peterseim Facebook and YouTube pages. Burial will be held before the service at 9:30 AM at the East Union Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be held Monday, May 25, 2026, from 4 – 6 PM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for the East Union Mennonite Church. The Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Nita Maye Miller was born January 25, 1928, in rural Johnson County, the daughter of Sherman and Emma (Miller) Miller. On March 30, 1948, she was united in marriage to Daniel D. Miller at East Union Mennonite Church and they lived most of their married life on the family farm. Nita was a cook at Wayside Inn and along with Daniel operated the lunchroom at the Kalona Sales Barn for 17 years. She was a lifelong member of East Union Mennonite Church where she participated in the women’s sewing group (WMSC) and other various church groups and activities. Nita was a member of the Johnson County Farm Bureau Women’s group. She was known as a great cook and baker and often cooked for large groups. Nita enjoyed playing games, crossword puzzles, word search, singing with her sisters, and attending grandchildren’s sporting and fine arts events. She loved making cookies for the Hershberger boys and their teammates.

Survivors include six children: Larry (Liz Yoder) Miller of Harrisonburg, VA; Carolyn (Larry) Detweiler of Parnell, IA; Jim (Deb) Miller of The Villages, FL; Paul (Deyonne) Miller of Clive, IA; Paulette (Marv) Hershberger of Kalona, IA; and Angela (Mark) Beary of Kalona, IA; 11 grandchildren: Laurie (Derek) Yoder and Andrew (Lana) Miller both of Harrisonburg, VA; Shantell Krabill of Parnell, IA; Brian (Kari) Miller of North Liberty, IA; Jeff (Jessica) Miller of Hilliard, OH, Alex (Megan) Miller of Urbandale, IA; Abby (Nick) Shoeman of Otsego, MN; Jonathan (Amy) Hershberger of Iowa City, IA; Bradley (Alyssa) Hershberger of Coralville, IA; Daniel Hershberger of Kalona, IA; Katie (Jeremy) Adams of Earlham, IA; 19 great grandchildren, sister Barbara Eichelberger of Newton, KS, sister-in-law Delores Miller of Kalona, IA and a number of nieces and nephews.

Preceding Nita in death were her parents, her stepmother Ida, her husband Daniel, a daughter Nancy Jolene Miller, daughter-in-law Wilma Miller and two sisters: Ellen Yoder and Ruby Schrock.