Ward was born January 25, 1934 in Iowa City, IA and was adopted by Dr. Glen and Ethel (Atkinson) Miller from Marshalltown. Shortly after graduation from Marshalltown High School he enlisted in the US Army with tours in Germany and France during the Korean War. After his discharge from the Service he was employed with Lennox Industries. While at Lennox he met his wife Janet (Bean) in the Art Department. They were married on March 17, 1959. From Lennox he went to work for Marshall Printing Company as a Salesman. While making a sales call on the Marshalltown Trowel Company (Marshalltown Company) he was offered a job with the trowel and tool manufacturer. This was a job that he would retire from as VP Sales & Marketing with over 30 years of service. He loved representing Marshalltown Company and traveled extensively expanding the tool line throughout the United States and Europe. He was honored to serve as a Board and Executive Committee member including as Chairperson of The American Hardware Manufacturers Association. He also served as a Board Member for the Hardware Marketing Council. Later after retirement, Ward worked alongside his wife Janet as a sales agent for Five Star Real Estate Group where they were a very successful team. It was during this time period that he also became more involved with the Marshalltown Masonic Lodge and Za-Ga-Zig Shriners. He was part of the Tin Lizzie Patrol group that would head out to dozens of small town summer parades and drive their miniature Tin Lizzie cars. This was one of his great joys. He was also a Royal Order of Jesters member. He so enjoyed the fellowship of the Shriner organization and the good works that they support. Ward was a member of The First United Methodist Church, The Rotary Club, a member of Elmwood Country Club, served two terms on the Board of Adjustment for the City of Marshalltown and enjoyed the friendship of the West End coffee group. He traveled the world but was a Marshalltown man all his life. It is where he worked, married and raised a family. He was a guy who liked corny jokes, silly wind-up toys, chasing the little white ball and anything that involved his family. He had a kind and gentle spirit with a servant’s heart.

Left to cherish his memories are his sons Jeff (Julie) Miller, of Marshalltown, Drew (Jan) Miller, of West Des Moines; granddaughters: Megan (Taylor) Brodie, of Elkhart, IA; Lauren (Spencer) Farrell, of Ankeny, IA; Jordan Miller, of West Des Moines; grandson Tate Carlson, of Marshalltown; great granddaughter Lillian Brodie, of Elkhart.

He is preceded in death by his wife Janet and parents.