Leona Sophia Miller

Leona Sophia Miller 85, went home peacefully to her heavenly father on Monday, June 13, 2005, surrounded by her family at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Leona was born to Leo and Sophia (Wilichowski) Socha on January 25, 1920, the oldest of ten children. Leona married the love of her life, George Miller, on June 28, 1941 in Milwaukee. They lived in Wausau the first years of their marriage, then moved to Edgar where they dairy farmed in the township of Rietbrock until 1976 when George retired. Leona enjoyed working at the Chateau Regina with her brother and sister-in-law, Leo Jr. "Sonny" and Norma Socha. Leona's home was in Edgar, until she was hospitalized on Friday, June 10, 2005. George and Leona had ten children, and are survived by nine of them, Bob (Jenny) Miller, Wausau, Gary (Sharon) Miller, Marathon, Gene (Mary) Miller, Athens, Nancy (Tom) Mader, Marathon, Mary (Bill) Ellenbecker, Athens, Donnie (Laurie) Miller, Athens, Carol (Bob) Adams, Tualatin, Ore., Kathy (John) Punke, Athens and Judy (Kevin) Weise, Athens; twenty grandchildren; three great grandchildren; three brothers, Larry (Cora) Socha, Neenah, Les (Dorothy) Socha, Neenah and LeRoy "Butch" (Marlene) Socha, Edgar; one sister, Lorraine (Dave) Socha, Edgar; four sisters-in-law, Norma Socha, Edgar, Lorraine Socha, Kenosha, Penny Miller, Milwaukee and Lucy Stephanie, Stevens Point; and her aunt, Helen DeLeeuw, Milwaukee. She was preceded in death by her husband, George on February 27, 1989; her infant son, Ken; her parents, Leo Sr. and Sophia Socha; four brothers, Leonard, Louie, Leo Jr. "Sonny" and James Socha; and one sister, Mary. The celebration of Leona's life will be led by the Rev. Norman Boneck at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edgar at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 16, 2005. Burial will be in St. John Catholic Cemetery, Edgar. Family and friends may call Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. until time of services at the church. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Edgar is in charge of arrangements. Leona's wish was for her family to direct memorials to St. John Catholic School, Edgar, where all nine of her children received their christian education. A very special thank you to her neighbor and friend, Marge Knetter, the Edgar Ambulance Service, Dr. Richetto for his care over the past several years and to the physicians and nurses in the ICU Unit at Aspirus Wausau Hospital for their professionalism and loving care given to mom. Online condolences at www.petersonkraemer.com