It is with deep sadness that we let you know that Michael Martin Miller aka Jedi Mike aka Ghost of Stan Lee passed away peacefully in his sleep from complications due to congestive heart failure, at his home at 5:45 am on January 17, 2024. He was 91 and a half years old but would gleefully tell others he was 19!
Michael was born in Buffalo New York. Michael served in the Army during the Korean War and was honorably discharged. He was a member of the Calvary, basically the scouts of the time. He had many occupations during his lifetime including riveter, brake man for trains, car mechanic, gas station manager, salesman, restaurant owner and wood clock maker. He enjoyed playing the mandola with his wife in the San Diego Mandolin Orchestra. He had a deep passion for Vivaldi and Mozart, loved looking at Lego exhibits, going to museums, anything to do with history, going to county fairs, and was glad he traveled so much in his younger years. He learned to sew at the young age of 87.
He spent his last 6 years as a very active member of the Rebel Legion – an international charity costuming group. He loved being a Jedi or Rebel Fleet trooper for the children at the many charity and library events he participated in. He also enjoyed attending the Comic conventions in both San Diego and Arizona and has a very active web page on Facebook called Never too Old to Cosplay. His favorite cosplays outside of his charity work were doing Dick Tracy, Green Hornet and Stan Lee from Marvel. He served as an inspiration to many that you are never too old to pursue your passions or to help others.
Michael would say that he was born monetarily poor and died the same but he was rich in many ways. He adored his wife Rya Dolores, and was very proud of his children and their families. He had many friends and admirers the world over. He was most proud of his DNA ancestry results which revealed he not only had Viking blood in addition to his known French-German, Polish heritage, but was also Jewish. He marked his ethnicity on surveys as Other – American Mutt. His only regret was that he delayed some health care because he and his wife thought it cost too much and as a result he was in a lot of pain and discomfort when he did not have to be. As a result, he wanted everyone to know to do fun things and health related things while you are young – don’t wait for the “perfect” time or think it is too costly, or it will be too late to fully enjoy or benefit from that thing. Most importantly, tell the people you love, every chance you can, that you love them.
Michael is preceded in death by his father Joseph Mrowczynski (Miller), his mother Genevieve Mrowczynski /Miller/Bradley (Grabner), his brothers Bob, Joseph, & Eugene Mrowczynski and his wife of what would be 71 years - Rya Dolores Miller (Grood). He is survived by his two daughters: Dianne Althouse (Miller) and Gail Barclay (Miller); his 3 grandsons: Michael Alan Althouse, Richard Allen Barclay III, and Jacob Beau Barclay, his great grandson Richard Allen Barclay IV, his brothers Leo Miller, George Miller, and his sister Jeannie Shlierf (Miller). Sadly, Michael lost contact with his other brother Fritz Mrowczynski (Miller) back in the late 1960’s so his status remains unknown.
Michael greatly appreciated the care given to him by his AMHA Hospice Nurse Lori, the AMHA nurse’s aides Joy and Mandy. He absolutely adored his Senior Helpers 24-hour caregivers (that enabled him to stay home and out of the hospitals): Carmen (loved her cooking), Victoria (the Queen), Becky (His football cohort), Jasmine (the princess who taught him to draw and learned to bake from him), Isaiah (a football pal), Eugene (football and basketball pal) and James (the boss man). He was especially grateful to his PCP Dr. Laura Skrocki for encouraging him to get in hospice care early so he could enjoy life without having to go to ER all the time when something happened.
A Celebration of Life was held on February 29th at 1 pm PST and 4 pm EST. It can be viewed through the link below.
Memorial Video:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/day46kfyg3nmcnh8c8oac/dad.mp4?rlkey=mnquco5yuhux67m3q5newmhda&dl=0
The family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Holocaust Museum, American Cancer Society or the Salvation Army.
Michael also requested that we should be kind to others, and if you read a comic book, watch a Marvel or Star Wars movie or series, raise a glass and think of him, and may the force be with you all!
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