Martin Ernest "Jake" Miller, age 92, of Towamensing Township, Palmerton, PA passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at Scenic View Personal Care Home in Trachsville. He was the beloved husband of the late Janet E. Miller whom he married on August 25, 1979.
Jake was born on September 18, 1933 in Lebanon, New Jersey, the youngest of three sons of the late Ernest and Mary Miller. His mother died when he was two years old. Roy R. "Pappy" and Hattie Donnelly were his foster parents. He grew up near Flemington, NJ and on their farm in Bushkill, PA with two older foster sisters.
He attended East Stroudsburg High School, Class of 1952. He and Janet loved attending ESHS multi-class reunions. Jake played basketball for Frank's Barber Shop Quintet when he was 17 and 18 years old. He said he was drafted in 1952 by the Detroit Tigers to play Class C baseball in a small town near Utica, NY.
After high school he enlisted in the Navy, trained to be an electrician, and travelled the world visiting farflung places such as France, Australia, and Tierra del Fuego. Jake said he was with Naval intelligence and reconnaissance. He served our country with dedication and courage on the U.S.S. Saratoga during the Korean War.
Following an honorable discharge, Jake got married and raised a family. He enjoyed supporting youth sports as a coach and umpire for Little League and ESYA. As a civilian electrician he became a proud member of IBEW Local 102. One of the stories he liked to tell was how he shook hands with Yankees Mickey Mantle & Billy Martin when he was helping to wire a kitchen at Mount Airy Lodge. "And Mantle was the talkative one, if you can believe that!"
After he hung up his electrician's tools in 1995, Jake delivered customized vans and drove for Champagne Limosine in Pen Argyl, PA. He navigated the Poconos, New Jersey and New York City effortlessly, no GPS required, until he retired in 2013. He was a fan of the NY Giants, the Phillies and the Iron Pigs.
Jake will be deeply missed by all of his surviving family including three children, Michael M. Miller of Bushkill, PA, Roy D. Miller (Evelyn) of East Stroudsburg, PA and Kate M. Miller of Antioch, IL; six grandchildren, Michael D. Miller, Sara Caldwell, Roy D. Miller, Jr. (Jill), Niko Jefferson (Halie), Elyse Rivera (Christian), Isaac Miller (Brian); and nine great grandchildren, Avey, Alyssa, Lilly, Grace, Owen, Peter, James, Lukas, and Todd; three step-children, Lynn Vogel Koplitz (Brent) of New Orleans, LA, Lisa Strohl (Kevin) of Palmerton, PA, and Brenda Lobdell Poeltl (John) of Newtown, CT; five step-grandchildren, Shannon Koplitz (Caroline), Trevor Koplitz (Stephanie), Janelle Strohl (Casey), Brendon Strohl (Emalee), and Kyle Oddis; two step-great granddaughters Aurora Rae Koplitz and Micah Lynn Farkas-Koplitz. He is also survived by a host of extended family members and wonderful friends.
Jake was preceded in death by his brothers, Milford and Richard, his foster sisters, Evelyn Wickham and Freda Johnson, his first wife, Joan, and by two of his children, Brian and Laurie.
Interment is private and at the convenience of the family.
Gower Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 1426 Route 209, Gilbert, PA is entrusted with his arrangements.
www.gowerfuneralhome.com
Jake was born on September 18, 1933 in Lebanon, New Jersey, the youngest of three sons of the late Ernest and Mary Miller. His mother died when he was two years old. Roy R. "Pappy" and Hattie Donnelly were his foster parents. He grew up near Flemington, NJ and on their farm in Bushkill, PA with two older foster sisters.
He attended East Stroudsburg High School, Class of 1952. He and Janet loved attending ESHS multi-class reunions. Jake played basketball for Frank's Barber Shop Quintet when he was 17 and 18 years old. He said he was drafted in 1952 by the Detroit Tigers to play Class C baseball in a small town near Utica, NY.
After high school he enlisted in the Navy, trained to be an electrician, and travelled the world visiting farflung places such as France, Australia, and Tierra del Fuego. Jake said he was with Naval intelligence and reconnaissance. He served our country with dedication and courage on the U.S.S. Saratoga during the Korean War.
Following an honorable discharge, Jake got married and raised a family. He enjoyed supporting youth sports as a coach and umpire for Little League and ESYA. As a civilian electrician he became a proud member of IBEW Local 102. One of the stories he liked to tell was how he shook hands with Yankees Mickey Mantle & Billy Martin when he was helping to wire a kitchen at Mount Airy Lodge. "And Mantle was the talkative one, if you can believe that!"
After he hung up his electrician's tools in 1995, Jake delivered customized vans and drove for Champagne Limosine in Pen Argyl, PA. He navigated the Poconos, New Jersey and New York City effortlessly, no GPS required, until he retired in 2013. He was a fan of the NY Giants, the Phillies and the Iron Pigs.
Jake will be deeply missed by all of his surviving family including three children, Michael M. Miller of Bushkill, PA, Roy D. Miller (Evelyn) of East Stroudsburg, PA and Kate M. Miller of Antioch, IL; six grandchildren, Michael D. Miller, Sara Caldwell, Roy D. Miller, Jr. (Jill), Niko Jefferson (Halie), Elyse Rivera (Christian), Isaac Miller (Brian); and nine great grandchildren, Avey, Alyssa, Lilly, Grace, Owen, Peter, James, Lukas, and Todd; three step-children, Lynn Vogel Koplitz (Brent) of New Orleans, LA, Lisa Strohl (Kevin) of Palmerton, PA, and Brenda Lobdell Poeltl (John) of Newtown, CT; five step-grandchildren, Shannon Koplitz (Caroline), Trevor Koplitz (Stephanie), Janelle Strohl (Casey), Brendon Strohl (Emalee), and Kyle Oddis; two step-great granddaughters Aurora Rae Koplitz and Micah Lynn Farkas-Koplitz. He is also survived by a host of extended family members and wonderful friends.
Jake was preceded in death by his brothers, Milford and Richard, his foster sisters, Evelyn Wickham and Freda Johnson, his first wife, Joan, and by two of his children, Brian and Laurie.
Interment is private and at the convenience of the family.
Gower Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 1426 Route 209, Gilbert, PA is entrusted with his arrangements.
www.gowerfuneralhome.com
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