Tresa Joanne Miller, known throughout her life as "Joanne," passed away on November 12, 2024, at the Phillips County Retirement Center in Phillipsburg, Kansas. She was born on May 8, 1935, in Farmington Township, Rooks County, Kansas, the only child of Nicholas James and Ilah Leona (Griffith) Strohmeier. Joanne's parents later divorced, and she was raised primarily by her mother and maternal grandparents, Franklin and Ellen (Jerby) Griffith.

Joanne spent much of her childhood on her grandparents' farm in Rooks County, where she developed a strong sense of family and community. Her early education began in country schools, where her mother taught. During World War II, Joanne moved with her mother to Stockton, Kansas, and attended Stockton Public Schools. It was also during this time that the Griffith family held annual reunions in Stockton, with Joanne often helping to care for her younger cousins, as most times the oldest.

After WWII, Joanne became the stepdaughter of Gilbert Walter Suhr whom Ilah married in 1946. On a summer visit to her Aunt Mae McLaughlin in Glade, Kansas, Joanne met Mae's neighbor's nephew, Donald Dean Philbrick. In the late 1940s, Joanne's family relocated to Kensington, Kansas, where she was enrolled in the local school system. She soon learned Donald was a student there. During high school, this Kensington Goldbug was a cheerleader, member of the band playing the saxophone, a football attendant, and Kayette member. Out of school, she was a member of the Busy Bee 4H club and was able to attend Rock Springs 4H camp near Junction City in 1950. Joanne Strohmeier and Donald Philbrick were married on March 30, 1952, at the Methodist parsonage in Osborne, Kansas, while Joanne was still in high school. She graduated as valedictorian of her class in 1953.

After marriage, Joanne and Donald started their family in Kensington before moving to Phillipsburg in the fall of 1956, where they would make their home. The family grew to three sons and one daughter. Joanne became a widow in 1985, after Donald's passing. She remained a Phillipsburg resident until her death. Throughout 65 years, she moved eight times within the city before settling at the Phillips County Retirement Center in 2021.

Joanne was deeply involved in her community and church. In Kensington, she was a member of the Women's Society of Christian Service and served as secretary, and in Phillipsburg, she joined several local organizations, including the Mother's Club of Phillipsburg in the 1960s, Phillips County Genealogical Society, where as a charter member she served in various roles, including president. She was instrumental in the formation of the Quad County Singles Club in the late 1980s or early 1990s. She was a member of the Charme' Club and United Methodist Women. Joanne's interests in genealogy led her to connect with long-lost relatives on her father's side, providing her with answers to many family mysteries and forming new bonds. Besides her social involvement, she found time for hobbies of reading, sewing, and gardening.

On November 27, 1992, in the Youth Chapel of the United Methodist Church, Joanne married James I. "Jim" Miller, a retired government surveyor who had recently moved back to Phillips County, whom she had met at a Q.C. Singles Club event. Together, they enjoyed traveling to places Jim had surveyed, including Washington and Oregon. They traveled to other various destinations across the U.S.A. including Florida, New York, Texas, and of course, Branson, Missouri. Joanne also enjoyed visiting thrift stores and attending auctions, always on the lookout for a treasure or collectible.

Joanne worked in various jobs throughout her life, including as a clerk at J.C. Penney and as an accounting clerk for Kansas-Nebraska Energy, Inc., where she retired in 1995. In her retirement, she helped Jim with his surveying business and assisted with bringing the company into the digital age.

Joanne was a devoted mother and grandmother. She was a regular and enthusiastic supporter of her children's and later, her grandchildren's sports activities. For over 30 years, she could be found cheering from the sidelines of football games, basketball courts, and track events. Her love for her family was unwavering, and she took great joy in watching the next generation grow.

Joanne was preceded in death by her first husband, Donald Philbrick; second husband, James Miller; her mother, Ilah Suhr; stepfather, Gilbert Suhr; and her father, Nicholas Strohmeier.

She is survived by her children: Michael Philbrick and wife Marcia of Seneca, Kansas; Eugene Philbrick and wife Victoria of Wichita, Kansas; Gregg Philbrick and wife Susan of Sugar Land, Texas; and Stacey Moon and husband Darin of Phillipsburg, Kansas. She is also survived by four grandsons, Eric, Jason, Nathan, and Ryan; two granddaughters, Anne and Ashley; and four great-grandchildren.

A funeral service for Joanne will be held on Monday, November 18, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel in Phillipsburg, Kansas, with Pastor Darlene Sheffer officiating and Pastor Anne Williams assisting. The service will be livestreamed on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page . Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Phillipsburg.

Joanne will lie in state at Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel on Saturday and Sunday, November 16 and 17, from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Phillips County Retirement Center or the Phillips County Genealogical Society.