Lael Laverne Miller passed away on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015, at Signature Healthcare of Bremen from Parkinson’s Disease.

He was born June 2, 1935, in Kosciusko County to Jonas E. and Laura (Leinbach) Miller. At the age of four months, his father was killed in a truck/train accident. His grandparents, Daniel and Lydia (Lehman) Leinbach helped raise him. He gradually became profoundly mentally handicapped from phenylketonuria, and at age nine was moved to the Fort Wayne State Developmental Center. He lived at the Cardinal Center Birkey Street Group Home since 1992.

He is survived by his family: the staff and residents of Birkey Street home, including: Kristie Redman, who cared for him for 21 years; guardian and cousin: Sarah (Scott) Yoder, Middlebury; past-guardian and cousin: Gloria Leinbach, Goshen; and other cousins including: Dean (Donna) Hartman, Fairfax, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his aunt and guardian: Glenola Leinbach.

Sarah and Dean wish to thank the staff of Cardinal Center, and Dr. Paul Gettinger of Community Family Physicians of Bremen for their compassionate care of Lael.

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing.” Psalm 68:5,6a There was joyful singing as Lael was freed from his body and entered the presence of Jesus.

Visitation will be from 10-11:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28, with the service following at 11:30 a.m., all at  Rieth-Rohrer-Ehret-Lienhart Funeral Home, Wakarusa. Pastor Ed Arnold of Pine Ridge Bible Church, Goshen, will officiate. Burial will be at Yellow Creek Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Cardinal Center, Plymouth.