Levi D. Miller, eight days short of 96, went to be with his Lord and Savior August 9, 2026, at Wooded Glen Retirement Community in Springfield, Ohio. He married Cora (Ropp) Miller December 25, 1950, in Kalona, Iowa, and they shared nearly 73 years of marriage before her passing in 2023.
Levi was born August 17, 1930, in Kokomo, Indiana, the fourth of seven children born to Daniel H. and Katie Miller. In 1940, the family moved to Iowa, settling in the Kalona area to farm. When Levi was 12, the family left the Amish church and joined the Conservative Mennonite church, where he met his future bride, Cora.
Although many in the community did not attend school past the eighth grade, Levi went on to complete high school at Eastern Mennonite High School in Harrisonburg, Virginia. As he put it, “I excelled in about all sports, but little else.”
After being told at age 22 that he was not physically suited for manual labor, Levi enrolled at the University of Iowa, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in education and later a master’s degree. The first half of his career was spent in education as a classroom teacher and then as a principal at Iowa Mennonite in Kalona, and later at Bethany Christian in Goshen, Indiana. The second half of his career was spent as treasurer and Mission and Service Stateside Director for Rosedale Mennonite Missions.
Levi was most recently a member of Shiloh Mennonite Church. He previously attended London Christian Fellowship for many years until he and Cora moved to Springfield, Ohio, in 2018.
He was a regular volunteer at the Country Closet Thrift Store in Plain City, Meals on Wheels, and Madison Hospital’s courtesy cart in London, Ohio. He was also involved in a wheelchair ramp ministry. From 2007 through 2013, he went on annual two-week trips to Nicaragua, Colombia, and Peru as a Medical Ministry International volunteer. In 2016, he and Cora were recognized for their service to the community and were inducted into the Central Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.
After moving to Wooded Glen in Springfield, Ohio, in 2018, Levi continued to serve by delivering newspapers and mail to other residents while caring for Cora as her health declined. We are grateful to the staff at Wooded Glen, who provided him with such good care, treated him as “special,” and engaged in the good-natured teasing he loved.
He will be remembered for his sense of humor, his generosity and service to others, his heart for Christian education and missions, and his undying loyalty and love for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
He is survived by eight children and their spouses: Karla (Calvin) Sills of Punta Gorda, Florida, Noel (Gloria) Miller of Altoona, Pennsylvania, Jerryl (Elaine) Miller of Reinholds, Pennsylvania, Marcia (Tim) Fuller of Plainfield, Indiana, Dana (Myron) Bontrager of Goshen, Indiana, Ronda (Lavern) Nissley of Springfield, Ohio, Kenlyn (Carolyn) Miller of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Kirby (Holly) Miller of Rosedale, Ohio. Also surviving are son-in-law: Marcus Freed of London, Ohio; 27 grandchildren; 59 great-grandchildren; and one sister: Martha (Kent) Shawver of Wichita, Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife: Cora; daughter: Brenda Freed; four brothers: Paul Miller, Henry Miller, Edwin Miller, and Daniel Miller; one sister: Anna Brenneman; and grandson: Josiah Miller.
Visitation will be held Friday, August 14, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Shiloh Mennonite Church in London, Ohio. The memorial service will be held Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 10 a.m. at the same location, with a graveside service following in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Levi and Cora Miller Scholarship Fund, Rosedale Bible College, 2270 Rosedale Road, Irwin, OH 43029, or to Rosedale International, 2120 E. 5th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43219
