Jon P. Miller

Jon Parker Miller, 78, passed away at home on March 18, 2023, with his family by his side. Born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on March 27, 1944, he was the son of Shelby and Arvonne Miller and Donald Chesher. Jon was raised and graduated high school in Lennox, South Dakota. After wreaking sufficient havoc on the streets of his hometown, and seeking an escape from the South Dakota wind chill, he and his parents relocated to the sunshine of beautiful Arizona. Soon after, Jon enlisted in the United States Air Force, and served as an MP during the Vietnam War. After his discharge, he returned to Arizona and joined the ranks of the Phoenix Police Department. Jon soon realized that his penchant for resisting authority made law enforcement a drag, and he drifted once more, this time landing in the mailroom of Salt River Project. In his 39-plus year career with SRP, he worked his way up to Hydroelectric Plant supervisor, where his natural leadership skills and maverick ways finally came together to bring power to the Valley of the Sun.

Jon enjoyed many hobbies, including photography, hunting, bar-b-queing, and dutch oven cooking. His greatest passion was flying, and he received his private pilot’s license in the mid-nineties. He enjoyed taking short day flights, as well as one coast-to-coast flight with his wife of thirty-seven years, Judy Miller. In an effort to either serve his community or elude a nagging wife (depending on whose story you believe), Jon also volunteered his time with many organizations, such as Flights for Life, Superstition Mountain Rotary Club, Superstition Mountain Mental Health Center, Lost Dutchman Marathon, Apache Junction Unified School District, Lost Dutchman State Park, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department. If ever a grandchild was participating in an extracurricular activity, Jon could be found on the sidelines, cheering them on and singing their praises.

Jon was a man among men, and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. He is survived by his wife Judy Miller, their three daughters Regan Roach (Lloyd), Sandlyn Miller (Mark Secrest), and Tayna Loftis (Darren), and one beloved Schnoodle named Daisy. Jon was preceded in death by his son, Dean Porter. He will be lovingly remembered by his grandchildren Colton Roach (Autumn), Jon McCune, Naythan McCune, Ryle Loftis, Madyson Roach, Haley Loftis, Milo Halperin, and Ella Secrest, along with many cousins and extended family from South Dakota to Iowa and beyond.

A memorial service will be held at the Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum in Apache Junction, AZ on March 29th, 2023 at 11:00am, for all who wish to attend. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his honor to the Apache Junction High School Scholarship Fund through Superstition Mountain Rotary Club, P.O. Box 565, Apache Junction, AZ 85117.