Obituary for Juaneta Miller

On November 15, 2021, Juaneta (Tynan) Miller passed away peacefully at her home. She went the way most of us hope for, in her bed while enjoying ice cream and her favorite TV channel.

Juaneta was born in Charles City, Iowa in 1940, the youngest daughter of James and Lettie (Herman) Tynan. She grew up and attended schools in Charles City.

In 1957, against the advice of her brother Dean who thought he was too “fast”, she went on a date with “Wayne” Miller of Charles City and fell in love. They married in 1958. Kimberly was born later that year, Kelly in 1959, and Tami in 1960. With 3 children that close in age, she had a handful. In 1968, the family moved to Lake Mills, IA and eventually ended up in Colorado.

After years working for doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies, she accepted a job in the early 1980's, managing a 33-room hotel in Gunbarrel, Colorado called the Sandy Point Inn. She thrived there and became active in the Boulder Motel/Hotel Association. She discovered she was good at business which led her to her proudest accomplishment, that of a real estate entrepreneur. Her business model was in short-term corporate rentals and she became very successful, buying Sandy Point Inn and several properties in Colorado and, upon moving back to Charles City, in Iowa. 

Known as Wannie, Bunny, or Bugs (Wayne's favorite nickname for her), she was generous, outgoing, friendly, and hardworking. She was also fiercely independent and very particular. All qualities that helped a shy young girl become a successful business woman. She regaled us with her stories, helped us with her guidance, filled our lives with her optimism and brilliant smile. She will be sorely missed.

Among the things you may not know about Juaneta is that she learned to belly dance. Also following a lifelong dream, she enrolled in flight attendant training at 69, celebrating her 70th birthday sliding down the emergency chute. She kayaked in the Caribbean Sea, hiked through the Amazon rain forest and snorkeled in the Pacific Ocean.

She loved exploring the world through cruising, taking many of her family members along on her adventures. But most of all she loved her family and would do anything for them.

She is survived by daughter Kimberly (Patrick Smith) Miller, son-in-law Sam Gurule; grandchildren, Jaime (Carly Goldsberry) Gurule, Kassi Gurule, Brandi Haywood; great grandchildren, Brenden, Ethan, Annabella, Emily, Madelyn, and Aiden; siblings, Jack (Judy) Tynan, Beverly (Larry) Luck; in-laws Marlene (Bob) Hockinson, Bill (Audrey) Miller; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by Wayne; son, Kelly Miller and daughter Tami Gurule; siblings, Jimmy, Leo, and Dean Tynan, Rose (Tynan) Washburn and Mary Lou (Tynan) Sprague.

An open-house celebration of life will be held on September 5th, starting at 3pm, on her large front porch at 307 N. Jackson. Bring lawn chairs and drinks.