Garland J. Miller

MILLER, Garland J. "Jake"
of Kalamazoo Garland Jake Miller, age 80, of Kalamazoo, MI, died surrounded by his family at Bronson Methodist Hospital on the afternoon of July 6th, 2011. The cause of death was heart failure but his soul is now in Heaven with the Holy Spirit, God, and God's son, Jesus Christ.
Jake was born on April 4, 1931 at home in Whitley County, Indiana, near Huntington, IN. He was the youngest son of Julius Andrew Miller and Philomena "Minnie" Smith Miller. He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet Jean Bailey Miller. Jake and Janet had been married nearly 55 years. Jake graduated from Clear Creek High School, Huntington, IN as valedictorian in 1949. He was a Freshman at Huntington College on a basketball & baseball scholarship. He enlisted before his Sophomore year into the Air Force and was a Staff Sergeant in the Korean War for the next 4 years. Afterwards, he went to Indiana University, where he received a BS in Accounting and then his MBA in Management with a minor in Finance.
The Upjohn Company is where Jake devoted over 31 years of his work life. He began his career in Corporate Marketing, then moved to Domestic Pharmaceutical Marketing. He also was involved in domestic and worldwide strategic planning for Upjohn. Finally, he became the Corporate Manager of Investments. After his retirement, he founded The Miller Financial Group, Inc. He was Chairman & CEO until 1998 when he became Chairman Emeritus.
Jake used his investment knowledge to do significant volunteer work in the Kalamazoo community. He assisted the Sisters of St. Joseph in their pension investments and was a consultant to the Kalamazoo College Endowment Fund, WMU Foundation & the Fetzer Foundation. He volunteered for the City and County of Kalamazoo Employee Retirement Funds and was on several Greater Kalamazoo United Way Committees, including the Board of Directors. He received many awards, including the WE Upjohn Founders Award and the City of Kalamazoo Outstanding Volunteer Award 6 years in a row.
Diane Miller and Susan Miller Millard are his 2 daughters. Diane lives in Kalamazoo and has 2 children, Sarah Bailey Wolfe & Daniel John Wolfe. Susan lives in Grand Rapids with her husband, Bill and has 2 children, David Jacob & Nathaniel Thomas. Jake was the youngest of 4 children. Cletus L. Miller lives in Huntington, IN. Robert T. Miller and Guenivere A. Miller are his two other siblings who previously passed away.
The visitation will be Sunday, July 10, 2011 from 6:00-8:00 pm with a Rosary service at 7:30 at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th St. A Mass of Christian Burial will occur on Mon., July 11th, 11:30 am at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 1150 W. Centre Ave., Portage, MI, 49024. A lunch reception will follow at the church in the Stanley Center. A private committal service will take place at Mount Everest. Memorial donations are requested in lieu of flowers to the following organizations: St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church address above, Sisters of Saint Joseph 4111 Nazareth Rd., Kalamazoo, MI, 49004 and The Greater Kalamazoo United Way 709 S. Westnedge Ave. #C, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007.