Carroll "Dean" Miller

Carroll “Dean” Miller, 84, of Batavia, passed away Friday, April 8, 2022, at the Jefferson County Hospital under hospice care. Visitation will be Monday, April 11th from 5-7 pm.  Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 12th at 10:30 a.m. at Behner Funeral Home with Pastor Danny Cary officiating.  Burial will follow the service in Batavia Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers or memorials, the family asks that you be a blessing to someone in need.

Dean was born April 23, 1937, to Martin and Eva (Whitmore) Miller.  He was the youngest of 5 children and the 3rd generation to live and farm on the Miller farmstead established by his grandfather Joseph Miller.  Dean attended Cross Lanes country school, Batavia school and graduated from Fairfield High School in 1955.  Growing up, Dean helped his father with the family turkey operation.

Dean was united in marriage to Patty Jo Piersol on September 5, 1959, in Ottumwa.  Shortly thereafter, Dean enlisted and served 6 years in the Iowa National Guard.  He worked for a short period at Dexter before engaging in his life long career of farming.  Farming was a joint venture with his wife Pat of 60 years.  You would seldom see Dean without Pat by his side. They raised hogs from farrow to finish, cattle, as well as row crop.  Besides farming, Dean had a passion for cars. He never had any formal training but was a self-taught mechanic that liked to work on his cars, trucks and anything with an engine. In his younger years, he would use the hoist at Creeks Oil Station in Batavia to work on his vehicles and it would be an outing for the entire family.  Dean liked a challenge and in the late 70’s, one of his prouder accomplishments was installing and adapting a 5-cylinder Deutz diesel industrial engine into a 1974 Chevy ¾ ton pickup. One of Dean’s favorite cars had been his father’s 2-door, hard-top Studebaker from the early 1950’s.  He mentioned the car often as it held many fond memories for him.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Pat; two brothers, Robert Miller and Richard Miller; two sisters, Pauline Kiews and Evelyn Ward.

Surviving are his children, Cindy (Mark) Rinaberger of Fairfield and Marty (Tracie) Miller of Batavia.  Grandchildren, Brenna Finlay, Cameron Rinaberger, Ariel Hipp and Morgan Miller; one great grandchild, Violet Yeager.  He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.