Steven "Steve" Miller

Steven Charles Miller, 73, of Hiawatha, Iowa, passed away from a sudden illness on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.  He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 20, 1952.  The family will conduct a graveside service at Shiloh Cemetery in Hiawatha on Friday, July 31, at 6:00 p.m.  A reception for family and friends will follow at the Noelridge Park Duck Pond Pavillion, 4900 Council Street NE, Cedar Rapids.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Edmund and Dorothy Mae (Birlingmair) Miller; and brothers, Norman R. Miller and Gary E. Miller. Steve is survived by his sisters, Traci (Donald) Nelson, Palo, Iowa, Terri (Michael) Garcia, Pueblo, Colorado, Jill Miller Curtis, Marion, Iowa; former sisters-in-law, Irene (Pene-Fiocca) Miller, Bandera, Texas, and Rebecca Gaffney, Quasqueton; nieces and nephews, Jessica (Edward) Franck, Ankeny, Johanna Miller, Independence, Lucas Miller, Arivaca, Arizona, Emily (Benjamin) Kurzleben, Sioux Center, Samuel Miller, Quasqueton, Daniel (Angela) Nelson, Merrillville, Indiana, Cory (Marcy) Nelson, Covington, Rachel (Jonathan) House, Griffith, Indiana, Robert (Traci) Garcia, Chicago, Illinois, and Jennifer Garcia, Everett, Washington; lifelong family friend, Bob Vandersee, Marion; and numerous grand and great grand nieces and nephews.

Steve proudly served in the US Army from December 1972 to December 1975, as a Motor Transport Operator and he was stationed in the US and Germany.  Steve skydived with a US Army Parachute Demonstration Team while traveling around the states jumping from both airplanes and helicopters to promote goodwill and recruitment for the Army.

Steve was an inherently gifted mechanic and began his career as a teenager, working at the neighborhood Gulf Gas Station as a Service Attendant when the family lived on Oakland Rd, Cedar Rapids.  He went on to be a mechanic at the VW Dealership and Winnebago Dealership in Cedar Rapids.  Later Steve worked at Moorman Equipment, then began specializing in mechanical and hydraulic lifts at Fox High Reach, RSC, United Rentals, then Altorfer CAT, before retiring in 2021 due to long lasting effects of COVID19.  Steve continued to work part-time as a mechanic and helping friends and family.

In his youth, Steve rode a unicycle, raced cars and motorcycles, began skydiving at Marion airport, enjoyed golfing and was an excellent bowler on several leagues, achieving a 300 that he was so proud of.  Steve loved to be with the whole family for holiday gatherings and looked after his widowed mom for many years until her passing.  Steve also enjoyed socializing with his many friends at the Westside Lounge and various pubs around Cedar Rapids.

Steve was very hardworking and was always determined to solve any mechanical issues that came his way, from lawnmowers, chainsaws to cars, trucks, tractors, heavy equipment, boats and a fire engine.  He was also a very generous person who easily made friends wherever he went and will be sadly missed by all his family and friends.

Please share your support and memories with Steve’s family on his obituary page at www.stewartbaxter.com under the Obituaries tab.