Richard E. Miers

Richard Ernest Miers, age 89, of Fort Wayne, died October 20, 2022 at Parkview Regional Medical Center. Mr. Miers was born October 29, 1932, to Edward and Violet Miers in central Wisconsin. During his childhood there, he spent a lot of time with his grandparents and their daughter who had come here from Germany before the Second World War. His Aunt was a school teacher who taught him to read when he was four years old. At the age of six, he started attending a one room school. He graduated 8th grade and entered Tomah High School. While attending high school, he played trombone in the school band. The trombone was a gift from his Aunt Irene, his father's sister. He graduated high school in 1950, then attended Wisconsin State college at Lacrosse. During his third year (1952) he was drafted into the Army for the Korean conflict. He served in the Army for three years. At the end of his service, he was stationed at Fort Jackson in South Carolina and played in the army band. He also played in a dance band at the USO on Saturday nights, this was a side job and not part of his service to the country. While stationed at Fort Jackson, he met his first wife Ruth. They were married in 1955. After his discharge he served in the National Guard and returned to Wisconsin State college to complete his four-year degree in 1957. After graduating he accepted a position teaching high school in Cadott Wisconsin. He taught for two years then entered Graduate School at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. After two years he received master's degrees in physics and education. He then accepted a position at Purdue in Fort Wayne teaching physics. After three years he returned to the University of Wisconsin in Madison (June 1964) and after five years earned his PhD in theoretical atomic physics. He then returned to Purdue at Fort Wayne where he taught until he retired (2011). He loved music and taught himself to play guitar and banjo. He spent his leisure time building remote control model airplanes and was a member of the Flying Circuits Club in Fort Wayne. He loved bluegrass music, attending bluegrass festivals and fly fishing. He was also a member of American Legion Post 47.

Richard had three children with Ruth; Marshall of Fort Wayne, Catherine of Osceola, Indiana and Edward (deceased). He has two younger brothers, Robert and Edward (deceased). Richard married his second wife, Merle in July 1991 in Madison, Wisconsin. Richard and Merle traveled widely during their marriage including tours of Alaska, Hawaii and Australia. Merle has a daughter Ellie Leonhardt. Ellie is married to David Bithell. They have two sons Casper and Linden. They all live in Ashland, Oregon.

Marshall has three children with Jayne. Ross Miers, Sarah Winter (Matthew of Sterling Heights, Mi), Eric Miers, Catherine Konkle (Chuck) has a daughter Cierra Konkle (Osceola, IN)

Edward Miers (deceased) has a son, Edward Miers and a daughter, Charity Miers.

Edward (Nora) has children Jonathon Miers, Emma Miers, Cora Miers (deceased) and Ryker Miers.

A a celebration of life service and visitation for Richard will be held Saturday, November 5, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home, 6131 Saint Joe Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46835.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HockemeyerMillerFH.com for the Miers family.