Freddie Miller

Freddie "Fred" Miller, 91, of St. Louis, MI, left this life on Sunday October 14, 2018 to be with his loving wife Roberta and to walk hand in hand with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Freddie Joseph Miller was born on July 13, 1927 to Merle and Anna (Sterzick) Miller in Smyrna, MI. He grew up in the Lowell and Smyrna area until the family moved to the Sumner area when he was 3 years old.  Fred attended Crystal High School.  While there, he played both basketball and baseball.  Fred graduated with the class of 1945. Fred worked for Consumers' Power Co. in 1945 as a meter reader and hired in at Alma Piston Co. (now Alma Products) in 1947 and retired in 1988.

While in high school Fred met the love of his life, Roberta Ellen Dart, who he affectionately called "RED".  They both knew from the first kiss that they would be together.  Fred and RED were married on July 29, 1945.  Over seventy-one years of marriage proved they were right.  During this marriage they had a daughter Marilyn and a son Dan.

Fred had many interests.  He loved bowling. Being a left-hander, when his left shoulder got bad, he simply switched to his right hand and kept on bowling. When he was younger, he liked to pheasant hunt. Fred often spoke of how at one time, he got two birds with one shot! He enjoyed fishing, taking the family on many fishing vacations. He really enjoyed playing cards. Fred also enjoyed his garden and grew very large sunflowers and popcorn.

But Fred's big love was baseball.  He was a diehard Detroit Tigers fan. He pitched while he was in high school and for many teams after he graduated. Fred ended his pitching career for the Sumner team in the Gratiot County League. After his active pitching days were over, he went on to coach the Alma team in the Gratiot County League. But what so many of the young boys of will remember about Fred is when he coached the Sumner Pony League. He sacrificed a lot of time and effort for them, often using two of his vehicles to transport them to games. To show Fred their appreciation, they gathered together over forty years later to present him with a special plaque thanking him for what he had done.

Fred's second birth began in June of 1976. It was then that he got on his knees and asked Jesus Christ to forgive him of his sins and to be his Lord and Savior. Fred attended Vestaburg Baptist Church and Liberty Baptist Church before settling in at the Ithaca Baptist Church for over thirty years.

Fred is survived by his daughter Marilyn (Harold) Roberson, son Dan (Marie Coughlin) Miller, grandchildren: Harold (Rehana) Roberson, Bret (Pam) Roberson, Brandy Miller and Jared Miller; 11 great grandchildren, 1 great, great grandson, and many nieces and nephews. Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Merle & Anna, sisters: Pearl Miller, Ruth Moore, Daisy Wood, Bertha Holton, and Marion Rockafellow; and his beloved wife Roberta.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes St. Louis, MI, St. Louis, MI, on Friday, October 19, 2018, at 1:00 P.M., with Pastor Kelly Carlson officiating. Interment will be at Pritchard Cemetery, Elwell, MI. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 19, 2018 from 11:00 A.M. until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ithaca Baptist Church 221 Norton Dr, Ithaca, MI 48847.  Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Louis, MI.