Joseph Edward Miller

Lafayette - Joseph “Joe” Edward Miller I was born on March 4, 1933 in Little Rock, Arkansas to Annie Helen Volpert and Nicholas William Miller. He met his beautiful wife, Iris Earlene “Little Wolf” Cluckey in 1950 and they married on November 2, 1956.  At the time of his death, August 27, 2022, Joe and Earlene were married for 65 years and best friends for over 72 years. Joe passed away peacefully in the home he shared with Earlene and his daughter, Jo Anne, surrounded by the love and laughter of his family.

After marrying and traveling with various carnivals, Joe and Earlene made a life together in Broussard, LA with their four children, Joseph “Jody” Edward II, John “Johnny”, James “Jimbo”, and Jo Anne “Sissy”. Together, the six Millers owned & operated Miller’s Street Fair of Lafayette which is now known as Cajun Rides, Inc., a carnival business that brought joy to school & church fairs and festivals across South Louisiana. They spent many summers traveling north to play fairs across the state of Minnesota. Joe was born a natural showman and loved to make everyone smile and feel happy. Anyone who knows him knows that he is a one of a kind character. His legacy will live on as the 4th generation of Millers continue with Cajun Rides.

He treasured his family and was happiest when surrounded by his loved ones with a good meal and plenty of dessert. He looked forward to watching Wheel of Fortune each night with his wife Earlene. Joe is best known by his grandchildren and great grandchildren as “Popeye.” He remembered dates and numbers better than anyone and loved to tell stories.  He served in the US Army for 3 years, 3 months and 3 days and was honorably discharged on August 12, 1953. And everyone knows his favorite color is green like money.

Joe Miller liked to do things differently and to be remembered for his uniqueness. In 2007, he organized the first ever “Communion Reunion.” Using a photo from his First Holy Communion, he tracked down his peers and organized a reunion for the 65th anniversary of his First Communion in North Little Rock, Arkansas at St. Patrick Catholic Church.

Joe was a proud member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church Parish, the Showmen's League of America, Midwest Showmen’s Association, and American Legion Post 69 and a charter member of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA) and Knights of Columbus #7557.

He is survived by his wife, Iris “Earlene” Miller, his sons, John “Johnny” Miller, James “Jimbo” Miller (Patrice), daughter, Jo Anne Miller, daughter-in-law Linda Miller, his grandchildren, Jenna Miller, Christina Lieberman (Zak), Brittany Miller, James “Bo” Miller (Jana), Roanne Langlinais, John “Mikey” Miller, Matthew Miller (LeAnne), Jolene Mengel (Wayne), Joseph “Joey” Miller III (Brittany), and Patrick Miller, and his great grandchildren, Logan Flaherty, Wyatt Langlinais, Wayne Mengel, Hudson Langlinais, Marti Rae Miller, Jack Miller Lieberman, Jodiee Mengel, Joseph “Number 4” Edward Miller IV, Brighton Miller, Grace Ann Miller, Annie Josephine Lieberman, Amelie Langlinais, and Blayke James Miller, his sister Mary Margaret Lee, his brother, Thomas “Tommy” Miller (Shari), and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great great nieces and great great nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son Joseph “Jody” Edward Miller II, his sister Anna Louise Miller, his mother Annie Volpert, his father Nick Miller, his father in law Earl “Chief Little Wolf” Cluckey, his mother in law Iris Cluckey, and his daughter-in-law Anna Miller.

A celebration of life will take place at David’s Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 31 with visitation beginning at 9:00 am and rosary at 10:00 am. A mass will be held at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Broussard, LA at 12:00pm. Pallbearers will be his grandsons James, John, Matthew, Joseph and Patrick, his great grandson Wyatt Langlinais, and his great nephew Brennan. Honorary pallbearers are Tommy II Miller, Zak Lieberman, Tony McBride, Paul Walters, Dennis Lee and Gene Caldwell.

Joe Miller was an avid supporter of the Acadiana Breast Cancer Survivor’s Group run by his daughter JoAnne Miller. The family requests that those who wish to express sympathy consider a donation to the Miles Perret Cancer Center’s Life with Breast Cancer Survivor’s Group in his name.

David’s Funeral Home, 316 Youngsville Hwy, Lafayette, LA (337) 837-9887 is in charge of funeral arrangements.