Maxine (Archer) (Janne) Miller was born March 4, 1922. Her parents were J.M. Archer and Emma (Bodmer) Archer.
She attended both grade school and high school in Waldo, KS. After high school graduation, she completed her 1-year teaching certificate and began teaching. She later obtained her BS and master’s degree (primarily from correspondence courses and varied classes) while raising four children. Maxine’s teaching career spanned 33 years. She taught in many country schools in the area, Luray Public Schools and Osborne schools. During this time, she joined Delta Cappa Gamma, a teacher’s sorority & was a past member of the Eastern Star.
On May 3, 1942, Maxine Miller married Vernon Janne (from Luray) in Los Angeles, CA. This union was blessed with four children: Ronald, Shirley, Marlyn and Emma. Twenty-seven years later, her husband (Vernon) was killed while aerial spraying. It was a sad time, and several years later in 1997 Emma died in an automobile accident.
After the death of her husband, she married a friend from Osborne, Dale Miller. Dale and Maxine were married 23 years. They built the house on 3rd street where she lived. Dale passed away in December 1993.
Maxine loved to travel and attended 2 world fairs. Maxine and Dale shared a European trip visiting Holland, Germany, England, and France. Maxine also visited her son’s family in Okinawa when Ron was stationed there in the Air Force.
In 1997, Maxine and neighbor, Wayne Knowles became life partners. Maxine had retired from teaching. Maxine and Wayne spent their winters in Truth or Consequences, NM. They would drive to Phoenix to spend Thanksgiving with Maxine’s daughters (Shirley and Marlyn). In 2015, they sold their mobile home in T or C, and lived in Osborne year-round. Sadly, that same year, Wayne passed away.
In March 2015, shortly after Wayne passed, an unfortunate accident occurred. Maxine tried to close her screen door one night during a high wind and was blown off the back steps. Although she broke her leg, with the help of her children, friends, and her tenacity and “can do” attitude, she learned to walk again.
She lived to attend both Ronald and Marlyn’s golden wedding celebrations in 2014. She loved her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and her great great grandchildren. They were her joy!
She is survived be her son Ronald and wife Lynda; daughters Shirley Coad and Marlyn and husband Gerry Homewood. Ron and Lyndas children are Robert Janne and Ronda Jo Kogler. Shirley’s children are Belinda and Matt Ratke and Kevin and Brooke Coad. Marlyn and Gerry’s children are Troy and Rita Homewood and Gregg and fiancé Rothary Homewood. Emma and Fred Wiese’s children are Sarah Wiese, Rachel and Randy Doriese and Ben & Haley Wiese. She has a total of 9 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 9 great great grandchildren.
There will be a celebration of Maxine’s life held on May 27, 2023, at the Osborne United Methodist church at 10:00AM.
The family has requested memorial contributions in lieu of flowers be made to the Osborne Senior Center C/O Barbara Wilson 108 W Main St Osborne, KS 67473.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Rentschler Family Mortuaries Osborne Chapel
www.rfmortuaries.com