Anita Helene (Deno) Miller

Anita Helene (Deno) Miller, 95 of Elmore, OH died Sunday, May 7, 2023 at Riverview Health Care Campus, Oak Harbor under Hospice Care. She was born May 9, 1927 in Genoa, OH to the late Theodore and Frieda (Kopp) Deno. She was a 1945 graduate and Valedictorian of Woodville High School and attended Bowling Green State University. On December 17, 1948 she married Blair D. Miller at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Survivors include her husband of 74 years, Blair of Oak Harbor; son David (Donna) Miller of Bexley, OH; daughter Monica Valle of Genoa, OH; grandchildren: Andrea Miller, Drew and Caleb Valle; and great-grandson Dean Mason. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister (brother-in-law) Arlene (Donald) Damschroder and their son Lamont.

Anita was the Fremont News Messenger’s Women’s page editor for three years and did free lance writing for newspapers and magazines. She was an avid jazz music fan and many other kinds of music, a golfer for over 55 years and had a hole-in-one. She enjoyed playing bridge with friends and numerous bridge clubs. She was a volunteer at Schedel Gardens and Arboretum, Elmore and life member for Riverview Auxiliary, Oak Harbor. Until recent years, she volunteered with the Red Cross Bloodmobile program in Elmore and earlier in life was a Red Cross Gray Lady at Riverview Nursing Home in Oak Harbor. She served as president of the Riverview Auxiliary and was a member of Ottawa County’s Mental Health Board of Directors. In 1975, she was named Ottawa County’s Woman of the Year.

Anita was a life long member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Elmore where she taught Sunday School classes, adult Bible classes and catechism at various times in over a 50 year span. She was editor of the church newsletter, president of the Elmore Lutheran Women’s Missionary League for many years as well as the Toledo Zone LWML. Anita was also a member of the organizing committee for the Trinity Lutheran Church Preschool.

Anita was active in the Elmore community. She gave book reviews and other programs to organizations in the village. She co-founded the Elmore Christian Women’s Breakfast group, the Welcome Wagon program and FISH, a Christians Helping Others project. She was a Cub Scout leader, a Harris-Elmore Public Library board member, on the core committee for Elmore’s USA Bicentennial Celebration and a member of the Elmore Historical Society, Literary Club, the Toledo Museum of Art and was the first president of the Sugar Creek Golf Club Ladies League. She also organized and was the charter president of the Elmore Junior Women’s Club.

Visitation will be Friday from 4-7pm at Crosser & Priesman Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Elmore, OH. Funeral Services will begin at 11am on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Elmore with Rev. Stephen Lutz officiating. Private Burial will be in Harris-Elmore Union Cemetery, Elmore. Memorial Contributions may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church (Special Gifts Fund), Schedel Gardens and Arboretum, or Lutheran Womens Missionary League (Toledo Zone). Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.crosserpriesmanfh.com.