Althea Miller

Miller, Althea (Hill)

Althea (Hill) Miller, age 80, Atlanta, GA, passed away on January 15, at Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Hospice in Atlanta, after her brave battle with cancer.

Althea was born in Rosendale, WI, July 8, 1933, daughter of the late John Hill and Evaline (Toll) Hill. She grew up on the Sarnia farm in Rosendale and graduated from Laconia High School in 1951. After high school Althea attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing in 1956.

She always dreamt of travel and enjoyed the trip of a lifetime in 1957, serving as a nurse to U.S. Army forces stationed in Japan. There she discovered the Far East which began a lifelong interest in Japanese art and culture. After returning to the United States, Althea continued her nursing career in Sheboygan, WI, where she met and married Kenneth Miller of Iowa City, IA, in 1959.

After raising two children to school age, Althea returned to a nursing career spanning almost 40 years with positions as Public Health Nurse in Sheboygan and Washington counties and Outpatient Nursing Supervisor at Milwaukee County Hospital. She completed postgraduate studies while raising her children and earned her Master's Degree in Nursing at UWM. After retiring in 1996 Althea moved to Atlanta, GA to be near her daughter and grandson...and to find warmer weather!

In addition to a lifelong interest in anthropology, Althea's passions included sewing and knitting, crafts, ballroom dancing, bridge, origami, and mahjong. And while she never returned to Japan, Althea never lost her passion for the Far East and loved surrounding herself with Japanese artwork wherever she lived.

Althea is survived by her son, Steve (Josephine) Miller of New York, NY; daughter, Karen Miller of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Justin Miller and Simone Miller; and great-grandson, Caden Miller. She was preceded in death by her brother, Tom Hill and parents, John and Evaline Hill.

Her children will forever hold fond memories of her incredible craftwork and her joyful (yet rhythmically challenged) dance steps. They will always be inspired by her perseverance, and especially her strength and grace after a car accident nearly ended her life in 2009 followed by a cancer diagnosis soon after. She fought hard until the end and friends nicknamed her "The Tank" because she always kept going no matter how difficult the challenge. Now The Tank can finally stop and rest.

A private celebration of her life will be held this summer in Rosendale. The family asks that any donations in her memory be made to Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Hospice in Atlanta, GA.