Juanita R. (Sackett) Miller

Juanita Rose (Sackett) Miller, 92, of Pittsfield, IL and Burlington, WI, passed away Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at the home of her daughter surrounded by family. Juanita was born April 2, 1932, on a farm near New Salem, IL, the ninth of eleven children of Mert S. and Cora L. Franklin Sackett.  On June 6, 1959, she married Frank “Red” Miller.  He preceded her in death on May 26, 1985.

In order to fulfill her dream of attending nursing school, she moved to Barry, IL in 1949, residing with one of her teachers, as the small country school she and her siblings attended couldn’t offer an official high school diploma.  In 1950, Juanita was accepted into the Blessing Hospital School of Nursing in Quincy, IL. In 1953, Juanita received her degree in Nursing from Blessing and accepted an RN position at Illini Community Hospital in Pittsfield, IL, where she would finish her career over 40 years later.  Her favorite was working in the OB department.  She never quite fulfilled her childhood dream of being a midwife in the hills of Appalachia, but she assisted with the delivery of countless area children and eventually their children as well, including her own two grandchildren. In 1996, Juanita retired from nursing. Juanita loved her family above all else, with her passion for nursing a close second.  She enjoyed traveling with her daughter and grandchildren.  She and her sisters, Cora and Myrtle, took numerous sightseeing bus trips all over the US.

She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth “Becky” Miller (Ron) Hoening of Burlington, WI; grandchildren, Maegan Wassell (Jon) Robertson of Wentzville, MO and Ethan A Miller of Burlington, WI; and great-grandson, Kaden Robertson of Wentzville, MO. She is also survived by one sister, Myrtle Sackett (Maxie) Tharp; brother-in-law, Don (Wanda) Snyder; and in-laws, Roy (Jo) Miller, Yvonne (Quentin) Miller, Kenneth (Karen) Miller, Lavonna Miller (Roy) Conway and Patsy Miller (Lyle) Spann.  She was “Aunt Neta” to numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. 

Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, Mert S. and Cora L. Franklin Sackett; siblings, Lacy (Evelyn) Sackett, Annabelle Sackett (Bill) Radefeld, Russell (Donna) Sackett, Hattie Sackett (Art) Taylor, Willis Sackett, Willard (Betty) Sackett, Mary Sackett (Charlie) Borrowman, Lula Mae Sackett (Bill) Bradshaw, and Cora Sackett (George) Watts.  She was also preceded in death by her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frank W. and Florence Holman Miller, three brothers-in-law, and three sisters-in-law.    

Visitation will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield, IL with Nightingale Ceremony accorded by Pike County Nurse Honor Guard at 1:45 PM. Memorials may be made to the Pike County Animal Shelter or the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.nieburfh.com. Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield, IL is handling arrangements.

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