Joan (Joanie) Catherine (Kulzer) Miller passed away on October 27, 2021 of natural causes.  Joan was born on April 23, 1927 to Sidney and Hilda (Thomas) Kulzer in Valley Washington.

Joan's family were true pioneers. Her great grandfather and great grandmother immigrated to America in 1854 from Bavaria and became a prominent pioneering family settling in central Minnesota.  In 1889 her paternal ancestors came west and settled in the Colville Valley where a small town and known as Kulzerville, Washington was born (now Valley, Washington). The family was instrumental in developing the area, helping build the road across the valley to Waitts Lake. They built the business known as the Kulzer Mercantile which the family ran from 1889 to 1976.

Joan spent her growing up years around Valley and Chewelah where she met her lifelong husband, Virg Miller of 57 years. Joan attended college at the University of Idaho while Virg was serving our country in the Air Force.  Shortly after they reunited they were married on April 26, 1947 in Valley, Washington. It wasn't long before they had their first child and Virg's job took them to Spokane, Washington.

As the family grew and Virg's grocery store business grew they built a home way out of town at the time. (46 ^th and Helena).  While there, Joan and Virg and their six children had a lifestyle that even the "Leave it to Beaver" family would be jealous of. We think June Cleaver learned all her motherly skills from Joanie.

Joan was an avid (and really good) golfer and truly enjoyed her time on the links with her friends and her children at Manito Country Club. She prided herself that Virg was rarely able to beat her. Between golf and raising six children, Joan was involved in her Helena Garden Club, the Thetas; her Idaho Sorority.  Joan and Virg were founding members of Our Lady of Fatima Church. Her faith will surely carry her on to her next journey.

As Joan and Virg's six children grew her life took on a new adventure when they acquired a cabin at Priest Lake, Idaho in 1968.  Joan spent every summer and many winter weekends there surrounded by friends and family. It was always the more the merrier. Joan will be remembered for her love of huckleberry picking and hanging out on the dock getting tan (bad mom). This was a place that she knew she would be able to be with her kids, because she knew her kids wanted to be at Priest Lake whenever they could.   Mom was pretty smart!!

The family would like to thank all the staff at South Hill Village for the care they gave Joan for the last four years.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband Virg in 2003. She is survived by her sister Patricia Peterson , her six children, Tom, Janis Kimberlin,  Debbie Boswell (Dave), Jim (Conni), Brian (Karen) and Doug (Favorite),  15 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and seven great-great grandchildren.

For a lifetime of love and memories we thank you mom. We will miss you forever.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Joan's name may be given to Priest Lake Memory Gardens, Hospice of Spokane or a charity of your choice.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 34 ^th and Perry, Spokane on Monday, November 8 at 1:30pm with inurnment to follow at Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery.