Koreen Kay Miller

Wasilla resident Koreen Kay Miller, 77, died April 12, 2011, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.

A celebration of life service in honor of Koreen is at 2 p.m., April 16 at VFW Post 9365, 301 E. Lakeview Ave., Wasilla.

Koreen was born Jan. 28, 1934, in McIntosh, S.D., the daughter of Charles James and Ethel Marcella (Nieson) Hodgekinson. She attended college at Seattle University.

She and her husband, Danie, l moved to Alaska in 1966 and lived in Ketchikan, Kodiak and Anchorage before moving to Wasilla in 1979.

Koreen was active in the VFW Auxiliary and her friends in the “Geritol Gypsies” will miss their weekly lunches with her. She loved traveling to visit family and friends she made along her life’s journey, especially those times with her husband, Daniel.

Her family will remember Kay as a wonderful, loving wife, mother and grandmother, and friend to everyone she met.

“She loved her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids so much. She will be missed by her family and everyone who knew her,” the family wrote. “Kay always stopped to the little kids and babies in the stores. We love and will miss you, Mom.”

Kay is survived by her husband of 51 years, Daniel Miller of Wasilla; daughter, Kristi Miller; son, Daniel Miller II and daughter-in-law Dawn; and daughter, Kari and son-in-law Andrew Ponchene. She is also survived by her grandsons, Brandon Miller, Zachary Ponchene, Alex Ponchene and Dakota Miller; granddaughter, Stephanie and her husband Gabe Laramie;

Granddaughters, Melissa Ponchene and Destiny Miller; great-granddaughter, Layla Laramie; and great-grandson, Van Laramie. She is also survived by her sister, Mitzi and her husband Earl; sister, Kim; and her brothers, Chick and Jeff.

The family was cared for by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory, Wasilla.