Malena "Marlene" Miller

Rock Valley, IA: Malena “Marlene” Miller, 85, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Monday, January 29, 2024, at Hegg Health Center of Rock Valley. A memorial service will be held Thursday, February 1, at 11:00 AM at Trinity Christian Reformed Church of Rock Valley with Rev. Stanley Groothof officiating. The service will be broadcast on Premier Communications Channel 77 or livestreamed at https://livestream.com/accounts/17373723/trinitycrcservices. Visitation with the family present will be held prior to the service from 9:30-10:30 AM at Trinity CRC. Private family inurnment will be held at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley.

   In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be directed to the Prairie Woods Nature Center at Oak Grove Park (https://siouxcountyparks.org/nature-center/). Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements for Mrs. Miller.

   Malena “Marlene” Cornilia Miller was born February 5, 1938, in Inwood, Iowa, the daughter of Cornelius and Germina (Scholten) Vermeer. She grew up on a farm near Rock Valley, Iowa, and graduated from Rock Valley Community School.

   On June 20, 1958, Marlene was married to Marion Faber. The couple made their home in Rock Valley and would have two sons and a daughter before Marion passed away in 1965. On September 3, 1967, Marlene was married to Billy Miller at the Little Wayside Chapel in Sioux Center, Iowa, and would have one son together. Bill passed away in 2020.

   After graduating from high school, Marlene worked for a grocery store, Iowa Public Service (IPS), drove bus for AEA 4, sold real estate, and assisted at Scanlan Insurance. Her highest callings were homemaker, devoted wife, and beloved mother.

   Marlene’s home was known as the best place to play. Grandchildren and neighbor kids built forts in the garage, pulled real fish from a pond in the back yard, and Trick or Treating at Millers was a must! She handed out countless popsicles and cookies, always answered the door, and welcomed everyone in. Her great grandchildren will forever remember her as “Cookie Grandma”. Marlene had beautiful flower gardens, loved birds and feeding them, traveling, reading, and coffee time with her friends.

   Marlene collected angels as a reminder of God’s protection and the day when her health would no longer limit her. Those who will dearly miss her are rejoicing as she is now present and walking with the angels in her heavenly home.

   Marlene is survived by her four children, Mark (Tammy) Faber of Rock Valley, Iowa, Mike (Karen) Faber of Littleton, Colorado, Melissa (Mark) Carlson of Andover, Minnesota, and Mitch (Mindi) Miller of Winner, South Dakota; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brothers, Junior (Ruth) Vermeer of Senoia, Georgia, and Everett (Judy) Vermeer of Rock Valley; and sister, Beatrice (Alan) Vande Stouwe of Hull, Iowa.

   She was preceded in death by her husbands, Marion and Bill; parents, Cornelius and Germina; parents-in-law, Siebolt and Fransis Faber and A.L. and Lola Miller; brother and sister-in-law, Al and Donna Schepel; and sister, Elaine Jerve.