Mardell Miller

Mardell Rozell Miller, 74, was born January 1, 1936, in Wiota, Iowa, the daughter of Fred Henry and Lucille Josephine (Christensen) Fries and passed away on December 21, 2010, at the Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.


She lived in rural Wiota before moving to Anita, Iowa. Mardell graduated from the Anita High School in 1954. While in high school she was the Class President, played basketball, was in band and was the Drum Majorette. Mardell continued to stay in contact with several of her high school classmates and enjoyed regular gatherings. She was also a graduate from the Thompson School of Beauty Culture in 1959.


In October of 1954, she was married to Robert Dale Miller at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic, they later divorced. Mardell worked filling in as needed at several different beauty shops in Anita and Adair while her children where growing up. In October of 1971, she opened Mardell's Beauty Boutique in Anita. She retired from her business in 1993 when her health would no longer allow her to work.


She was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Anita where she taught confirmation and Sunday school classes and was member of the Altar Guild. Mardell was also a member of the Anita Chamber of Commerce and was a Cub Scout Den Leader. She became a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church after moving to Atlantic. She was a member of the Hospital Auxiliary, volunteering several times a month and was a member of the Friends of the Danish Museum.

Family, friends and faith were Mardell's priorities. She was very special to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mardell was an avid reader. She loved music and had a musical family. She loved to attend Polka Fest activities with her children.

Mardell is survived by her children, Bob A. Miller of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Kim K. Miller of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Shelli S. Hogueison of Anita, Iowa, and Corey T. Miller and his wife, Melanie McCulley of Albany, New York; her grandchildren, Jamie Iedema and her husband, Nic of Ashton, Iowa, Scott Marnin and friend, Hillary Reinert of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Callie Tjaden and husband, Jason of Clarence, Iowa, Gabe Hogueison and fiancé , Lindsay Bounds of Anita, Iowa, and Claire McCulley of Albany, New York; her great-grandchildren, Mitchell, Bayleigh, and Hunter Jensen, Ella Iedema, Leighton and Evan Tjaden and Gunnar Hogueison; sister-in-law, Mardyll Fries of Fort Collins, Colorado, her brother-in-law, Gael Miller and his wife, Jan of Georgetown, Texas; her sister-in-law, Karen Kitelinger and her husband, Royce of Elk Horn, Iowa; nieces and nephews; her chosen children, Marty Rome of Iowa City, Iowa and Sherry Cranston of Atlantic, Iowa; and many other special relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Lucille Fries; her brother, Marvin Fries, a brother and sister in infancy; her grandson, Mike Jensen; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, January 7, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the service, also at St. Paul's.
Private family burial of cremated remains will take place in the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita, Iowa at a later date.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.