Stephen Craig Miller

Stephen Miller, 53, passed away at his home in Stevensville on Sunday, December 20, 2015, following a courageous battle with cancer.  Steve was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on December 25, 1961 to Harold and Mary Miller. Steve spent his early years in Fort Wayne before moving to Goshen where he graduated from Goshen High School in 1980.  After earning his degree in Communications from Purdue University, Steve joined Marketing Partners in St Joseph before taking a position at ASAE where he met his future wife, Melissa Carpenter. Steve discovered a love for teaching while working as a confirmation teacher for St Joseph Catholic Parish. After earning a teaching degree from WMU, Steve took a position at Brandywine Middle School teaching science for the past 19 years.  Steve was a loving and devoted father to his three children, Luke, Kate and Olivia.  He never missed the opportunity to cheer them on from the sidelines of the soccer field, hockey rink or dance stage.  Steve loved being a teacher which allowed him to spend summers at Indian Lake with his family.   After family and faith, hockey was Steve’s true passion. He loved the Chicago Blackhawks, the LSJ Warriors, and the BAD hockey league. Steve was a longtime member of the Catholic Church, first introduced to the Church by his dear friends, the Alexenko family during his teenage years.  He infused his faith into every aspect of his life.  Besides teaching confirmation, Steve was a dedicated supporter of Birthright of St Joseph. He found profound comfort in his faith and shared his devotion to God and the Church with family and friends.  Steve is survived by his wife Melissa; his children Luke, Kate and Olivia; father Harold Miller of Elkhart, Indiana; brother Mike (Shirley) Miller of Elkhart, Indiana, brother Brad Miller of Elkhart Indiana; father and mother-in-law Jack and Pat Carpenter of Stevensville; brother-in-law Pete (Laura) Carpenter; nephews Jack and Joe of Park Ridge, IL; sister-in-law Anne (Tony Ventimiglia) Carpenter; niece and nephew Sarah and Matthew of Stevensville.  Steve was preceded in death by his mother Mary Weldy.  The family welcomes friends at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd. St. Joseph from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, December 22 with the rosary recited at 7:00 P.M.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church St., St. Joseph on Wednesday, December 23 at 10:00 A.M. Father Thomas McNally will preside with concelebrants Father James Morris, Father Alphonse Savarimuthu and Monsignor Eugene Sears.  Burial will be in Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery in Dowagiac.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Steve’s memory can be made to Birthright of St. Joseph or the Brandywine Education Foundation, in Niles, Michigan. Those wishing to sign Stephen’s guestbook may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com.