Frederick J. Miller passed away one week short of his 95th birthday surrounded by family and friends after a brief illness. Fred was predeceased by his loving wife, Sarah (Ruck) of over 60 years.

Fred is survived by his sister, Marie Grosso, sons, Robert (Bob) Miller and his wife Kathy, Dennis Miller, granddaughter, Jennifer Beamon and husband Charles, granddaughter, Bobbi Jo Hopstetter and husband Ron, grandson, Matthew Miller and wife Melissa, granddaughter, Kristyn Sbriscia and husband David. He is also survived by eight great grandchildren, soon to be nine, as well as his close friend Joy Franz-Kin.

Fred was born in Guttenburg, NJ and raised as a child in Fairview, NJ son of Robert L. Miller and his mom, Margaret (Epstein). Fred grew up as a child during the Great Depression where he learned and preached everything gets reused, nothing gets thrown out. Fred left High School to enlist in the US Army during World War II, serving in the Phillipines until the end of the War.  He married his coworker at Great Bear Spring Water Co. in Ridgefield Park, Sarah Elizabeth Ruck in 1955. Together they were original purchasers of a home in the Kenwood Village section of Hackettstown, NJ on Lawrence Drive where he lived until just a few years ago. Fred was an avid bartender having built his own bar in his rec room, always offering a drink to anyone who entered his home. And when the first sip went down regardless of the drink or its quality he always proclaimed, “mmm Boy that’s good booze”

Fred was a truck route driver for Great Bear Spring Water Co for over 30 years, then a branch manager eventually working for Beneficial Finance Corp as a caretaker of their property in Allamuchy, then a branch manager in Washington for Bachs Home Health Care Supply.  Fred was an honorary member of the Knights of Columbus in Hackettstown earning third degree status, and a longtime member of St Mary’s Church of the Assumption.

Fred and Sarah loved the outdoors spending countless hours gardening, fishing, going on nature walks, and taking care of his fish pond in his backyard.

A memorial visitation will be held Saturday, January 7 from 11 am – 12:30 pm at Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ.

A graveside service will be held 12:45 pm on Saturday, January 7 at Union Cemetery, Hackettstown with Father Leopoldo Salvania officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or to a charity of one’s choice in memory of Frederick.