Arlene May Miller

She was born in a farmhouse in rural Green Valley on March 14, 1931 to Edward and Lena (Friedrich) Schmidt.

Arlene married a man who later divorced her after they lost a child not long after birth. She persevered with the help of her loving family. She eventually met her future husband, Lloyd Miller, while working for the Olt family near South Pekin. They wanted to introduce her to a nice young TV repairman who worked on their radios and TV’s. Arlene and Lloyd were married on November 28, 1957 and eventually settled into a farmhouse in rural South Pekin where they started their family.

Arlene was preceded in eternal life by her husband, Lloyd Miller; one child; her parents, Edward and Lena (Friedrich) Schmidt; her mother-in-law, Elizabeth (Miller) Rapp; one brother-in-law, Gene Weghorst; one nephew; one great-nephew; one great-great-nephew; all her aunts, uncles and close cousins and many friends.

Surviving are two sons, Chris (Tina) Miller of LaGrange, Georgia and Davin (Linda) Miller of Pekin; six grandchildren, Benjamin Miller, Brian Sandy) Miller, Lindsey (Blake) Guy, Matthew (Jenny) Miller, Jenny (Travis) Moore and Steven Miller; four great-grandchildren, Will and Luke Guy and Brody and Izabella Miller; one sister, Lucille (Schmidt) Weghorst; one nephew; two nieces; close cousins, especially Gary and Peggy Farlin, who held her hand as she passed and many dear friends.

She was a child of a farmer during the Great Depression, but never knew she was poor. Arlene and her sister, Lucille, grew up surrounded by her grandparents and cousins from both the Schmidt and Friedrich sides of the family. She was a true farm girl, helping her dad and mom around the farm and raising calves for 4H. Arlene and Lucille both attended a one-room schoolhouse.

Her husband, Lloyd, eventually built an electronics repair and retail business in Morton and settled his family there in a brick house catty-cornered from his mother, Elizabeth (Miller) Rapp. The family was happy and prospered. Lloyd was a trusting person and paid his debts in cash, often without a receipt. As a result, his business and home were lost due to business dealings with others who took advantage of Lloyd’s trusting nature. Arlene remained strong and cared for her broken husband and their children while the family tried to regain their footing.

The family moved into an old farmhouse in rural Green Valley, where Arlene remained strong for her family while Lloyd recovered. She took on odd jobs to help get by financially. They sacrificed to provide for their children the best they could and gave them a stable Christian home. Arlene spent her “free time” helping her aging parents up until their death.

Arlene and Lloyd loved and adored their six grandchildren in their retirement. She thought of her daughters-in-law as the daughters she never had. She remained active and strong in her church.

She was faithful and cared for Lloyd until his passing. Following Lloyd’s death, Arlene moved in with her youngest son, Davin and his family. She enjoyed being close to her family in Pekin and relished the times her oldest son, Chris and his family would come back from Alabama to visit as well.

Arlene was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s while living with her son’s family. After a few years of disease progression, they could no longer provide the care she needed. She was moved into Mardel Manor nursing home in Pekin, where she lived for almost two years before requiring skilled nursing and moving to Hallmark House in Pekin.

She was a longtime and faithful member of St. John’s (Sand Prairie) Lutheran Church in Green Valley, where she remained active as long as her health would allow her too.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at St. John’s (Sand Prairie) Lutheran Church in Green Valley. Pastor Chris Sansom and DCE William Krueger will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday evening at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Additional visitation will be from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday morning at the church. Burial will be at Sand Prairie Cemetery in Green Valley.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. John’s (Sand Prairie) Lutheran Church, 13443 Townline Road, Green Valley, Illinois 61534 or Alzheimer’s Association, Central Illinois Chapter, 614 West Glen Avenue, Peoria, Illinois 61614.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com