Asa E. Miller

Asa E. Miller, 88, of Kittanning, died Thursday, July 19, 2012 at his home. Born Feb. 2, 1924, in Kittanning Township, he was the son of the late Lawrence B. and Mertie (Walker) Miller. After marrying Edna C. Rosenberger in October of 1942, Ace joined the Army Aviation Corps of Engineers where he was stationed in Illinois, Virginia, New Jersey and Washington. He was aboard ship in between Hawaii and the Marshall Islands on his way to Okinawa when World War II ended. Upon his discharge from the Army he returned to the area, first settling in Freeport, then a home on State Route 85, and finally back to the homestead in Kittanning Township where he remained the rest of his life. Asa worked as a drag line operator until his retirement. Throughout his life you would find him farming and "tinkering" around the garage and farm. Hunting and fishing were his favorite pastimes. He hunted deer, bear, fox, turkey and small game. He spent a few years after his retirement at Pymatuming Lake where much of his time was spent fishing. In 2010, he enjoyed a final fishing trip to Minnesota with his good friend and brother-in-law, Charles Easley and his family. Another accomplishment Asa was quite proud of was the size of his family. You would often find him calculating the total count of his family tree, which is presently at 58 with one more due in October. Asa's family consisted of his wife, Edna, of 61 years; and six children, Asa Jr. aka "Butch" (Sharon) Miller, of Kittanning, Nancy (Roy) Newton, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Janet (Greg) Perry, of Kittanning, Sandi (Jim) Hooks, of Kittanning, Terry (Terri) Miller, of Kittanning, and Connie (Wally) Busch, of Applewold. He is survived by 24 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, with one more on the way. His grandchildren are Jim Miller, Brad (Ann) Miller, Julie (Doug) Erwin, Roy (Lena) Newton, April (Daniel) DeNike, Shannon (John) Neemes, Shelby (Jarek) Wlodarczyk, Chad (Holly) Perry, Abby (Shawn) Kendig, Jonelle (Bob) Kunkle, Brittanny (Brett) Stitt, Tiffanny Miller, Alexis and Zach Busch. His great-grandchildren are Colton Miller, Bryce, Chase and Carter Erwin, Jack and Luke Newton, Abby and Danny DeNike, Mabel, Lily and Amelia Neemes, Ella and Meadow Wlodarczyk, Devon and Brielle Perry, Owen and Ethan Kendig, and Lilliana, Cailean and Jade Kunkle. He is also survived by a brother, Charles Miller, of Kittanning. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Edna; son, Asa Jr.; four brothers, Roy, Martin, Eugene and Ira Miller; and three sisters, Roberta Quinn, Ruth Penvose and Edith Nelson. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 21, 2012, at the BAUER FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES INC., 515 N. McKean Street, Kittanning. Additional visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of funeral services at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 22, 2012, at the funeral home with the Rev. Wayne Eckman officiating. Interment will be at Salem United Church of Christ Cemetery, Kittanning, where military honors will be presented by the American Legion Honor Guard. Arrangements are being handled by the Bauer Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc.

To send an online condolence to Asa's family or view a tribute honoring his life, visit www.bauerfuneral.com.