Clara (Schaneman) Miller

March 22, 1923 – Dec. 16, 2017

Posted

TORRINGTON – Funeral services for Clara (Schaneman) Miller will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, at the First Congregational Church in Torrington with Pastor Matt Gordon officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery.

Clara died Dec. 16, 2017, at Heritage Estates in Gering, Neb. Memorials may be given to the First Congregational Church in Torrington. Visitation will be Tuesday from 3 – 5 p.m. and the casket will be open briefly prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends may send condolences to www.colyerfuneralhome.com.

Clara was born March 22, 1923, in Torrington, the daughter of Martin Sr. and Katherine (Reifschneider) Schaneman. She attended school and graduated from Torrington High School. She was baptized and confirmed at the First Congregational Church.

She was one of 11 children born to Martin and Katherine. As she was one of the older children, she was very helpful in raising her siblings until she left home to marry Marvin Miller on Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7, 1941. To this union four children were born: Sharon, Judy, Jean and Glenn.

The couple farmed in the Cherry Creek area until they moved to the Sheep Creek area in the spring of 1955.

In 1982, they moved into the town of Torrington, where Clara continued to grow a garden and can her dill pickles that all of her children and grandchildren were very fond of. She was a great “German” cook and that was enjoyed by her whole family. Her specialties were fried chicken, homemade noodles, angel food cakes and Christmas cinnamon candy.

She was an avid reader and meticulous house keeper. Crocheting and embroidery kept her busy in the evenings. Each grandchild received a homemade quilt when they were born and a set of hand embroidered tea towels when they married.

She was a lifelong member of the First Congregational Church and the “Sheep Creek” community club. Clara and Marvin also enjoyed pinochle club, family picnics and Dutch hopping.

Clara is survived by her children Sharon (Barry) Jones, Judy (Don) Johnson, Jean Ferguson, Glenn (Nancy) Miller. Also surviving are her grandchildren Jeff (Tanya) and Justin (Dani) Jones, Greg (Melanie) and Kevin (Kim) Johnson, Lisa (Steve) Bolinger, Brent (Kristin) Ferguson, Ross (Adreann) Miller and Audrey (Ryan) Murphy, plus 14 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings Elsie (Albert) Hopp, Lorraine Eisenbarth, Bob (Nancy) Schaneman, Dick (Judy) Schaneman, sisters-in-law Elsie Schaneman and Lorraine Miller.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin, her parents, sisters Lily Baker, Marie Riggs, Martha Schwindt, Betty Morgheim, brothers Martin Jr and Alex, sister-in-law Dorothy Schaneman, brothers-in-law Bob Riggs, Herb Eisenbarth, Kenneth Morgheim, Roland Schwindt, Wesley Miller, and son-in-law Bill Ferguson.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Heritage Estates, especially the Prairie Rose neighborhood, for her care.