I was so engrossed last week in writing about what would have been Jack’s 96th birthday on 18 December that I almost overlooked Rose Marie’s 100th birthday. But it really is hard to think of Jack without actually thinking of Rose Marie and vice versa.
Therefore, on this day, 23 December 2024, I want to remember Jack’s wife and partner in life and ministry, Rose Marie Miller, who turns 100 years old today.
Rose Marie’s life, like Jack’s, is a testimony to God’s grace at work, transforming brokenness into beauty and self-reliance into trust.
Early Years of Resilience
Rose Marie Carlsen, born on December 23, 1924, grew up near Daly City, California, in a family striving to recreate the order and dignity of their German heritage. Her father, Lorenz, managed a successful auto garage, while her mother, Annemarie, wrestled with the sacrifices of immigration and later struggled with schizophrenia. Rose Marie’s orderly childhood crumbled when, at the age of 13, she found her mother attempting suicide. This heartbreaking moment marked the beginning of Rose Marie stepping into the role of caregiver—not only for her mother but also for her younger sister, Barbara, who had a developmental disability.
Though Rose Marie excelled in athletics and academics, studying nursing at Cal-Berkeley and later transferring to Biola to deepen her faith, she bore the heavy weight of responsibility for her family. She described her upbringing as “a world of human goodness and careful morality,” but one where God seemed distant.
A Marriage Grounded in Grace
Rose Marie met Jack Miller at First Orthodox Presbyterian Church in San Francisco in 1949. Their lives could not have been more different. Jack, orphaned at two and hardened by years of poverty and an abusive stepfather, had experienced a profound conversion through the book of Ephesians.
Initially, Rose Marie hesitated to marry Jack, knowing the responsibilities she carried with her family. But Jack’s unwavering commitment to love and support her, including caring for her family, won her heart. The couple married on 29 January 1950, starting their life together in humble circumstances while Jack pursued his studies.
Their early years of marriage were marked by financial struggles, long hours of study and work, and the births of their children: Roseann in 1951, Ruth Lyn in 1952, Paul in 1953, Barbara in 1954, and Keren in 1960. Rose Marie devoted herself to raising her family while supporting Jack’s academic and ministerial journey, anchoring their lives in the gospel.
From Fear to Freedom
In 1974, while attending a conference in East Tennessee where Jack was teaching, Rose Marie confronted her struggle with fear and self-reliance. Jack’s gentle observation during a quiet moment struck her: though she had cared so deeply for others, she often lived as if the Father’s love and Spirit weren’t fully hers. This was a pivotal step in her journey, but it was during a later moment in Switzerland that her struggle came into sharper focus.
In 1976, during a worship service at a conference where Jack had been teaching in Switzerland, Rose Marie was there and listening. As Jack preached and served communion, the Spirit worked through both the preached word and the visible word of the sacraments. Rose Marie later described the moment: “In the breaking of the bread, I was changed.”
In 1980, Rose Marie and Jack returned from Uganda to Philadelphia through Switzerland. Rose Marie had been deeply affected by her time caring for children who had lost their families to Idi Amin’s brutal regime. During their stopover, Jack suggested to her, “You act like an orphan, as if God hasn’t given you His Spirit.” God used Jack’s gentle yet direct words to reach Rose Marie’s heart.
Soon after this exchange, Rose Marie called her daughter Barbara from Switzerland. During their conversation, Rose Marie admitted to Barbara how she had been living like an orphan. It was this vulnerable confession—not arguments or appeals—that the Spirit used to reach Barbara’s heart. Barbara’s repentance in turn became a powerful testimony to her younger sister Keren, exemplifying the grace that flows downhill, transforming one life after another.
The Courage of Grace
Jack once said, “Grace is courage. It strengthens you to say no to sin, endure suffering, and remain steadfast through trials.” This kind of grace has marked Rose Marie’s life. Today, at 100 years old, she continues to live and minister among South Asian communities in London, working with her daughter Keren and son-in-law Bob Heppe through Serge.
Rose Marie’s life is a testimony to the truth that the gospel transforms us not in spite of suffering, but often through it. Her journey of faith—from a disciplined yet distant morality to a deep experience of God’s love as her Father—reminds us of the power of grace.
As we reflect on Rose Marie’s 100 years of life and faith, may her story encourage us to rest in the love of the Father, who makes us His beloved children. Rose Marie herself would be the first to say that her life is not ultimately about her or Jack, but about the faithfulness of Christ to them both and their family.
To God be all glory as we remember Rose Marie today on her 100th birthday.
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