Noreen Faye (Kahl) Kahler-Miller
Noreen Faye (Kahl) Kahler-Miller, 86, passed away Monday, April 17, surrounded by family at her home in McGregor, Iowa, after a courageous battle with cancer.
She was born to Mildred (Erickson) Kahl and Norman Kahl on Jan. 6, 1931, in Marinette. Noreen graduated from Barron High School in 1948, and continued her education at UW-Stout. Noreen graduated in 1952, with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics with minors in English and science. She continued her education by obtaining a Master of Science degree, in home economics, through the University of Wisconsin-Extension 1972. During this time, she participated in a European study tour that included traveled to Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Noreen found her first love in John Cook and married in 1950. They had two children, Sandra and Timothy. After John and Noreen parted ways, Noreen met Daniel Miller, and joined his hand in marriage for 33 happy years until his passing in 2004. In 2006, Noreen joined Marty Kahler’s hand in marriage, and were by each other’s side until her very final moments.
Noreen taught in the Waterloo school system in Iowa, the Necedah school system, and the UNI Cedar Falls, school system in Iowa, for a total of 36 years until her retirement.
Dan and Noreen began traveling, all while spreading their love of God through gospel music, ministry, and friendship until Dan’s passing. During this time, Noreen became a licensed Lay Person, just as her father Norman had done so many years ago. In addition, she joined Revive, the Iowa United Methodist Working for Christian Faithfulness Coalition, as a Co-Chairmen. One of her proudest achievements was performing at Carnegie Hall in New York, N.Y., with her UW-Stout choir in 2006.
Noreen’s life was filled with a love of many things that included music, gardening, antiquing and a deep love for travel (especially during the Iowa winter months). Above all things, she cherished and loved her family and her Lord Savior more than anything.
Noreen is survived by her brother David Kahl; sister Margaret (Kahl) Maust; husband Marty; children Sandra (Cook) Wilke, of Stoughton, and Timothy Cook, of Eau Claire; grandchildren Susan Brock, William Wilke, Andrew Wilke, Sarah Wilke, Jennifer Nilssen and Amanda Mikhaeil; fourteen great-grandchildren; and her step-daughters Candy Seltzer and Susan Miller, and their families.
She was preceded in death by her late husbands, John Cook and Daniel Miller; sister JoAnne Kahl-Johnson; and her parents, Mildred and Norman.
Funeral services will be Saturday, April 22, at 11 a.m., at the United Methodist Church in Prairie du Chien with burial in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery in McGregor. Friends may call on Friday, April 21, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Garrity Funeral Home in Prairie du Chien and at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of services.
The family is grateful for the wonderful staff from Crossing Rivers Hospice who supported Noreen and the family through her final days. She will be greatly missed by all those whose lives she touched and who knew and loved her.
