Robert Lewis Miller

Robert Lewis Miller, age 90, of Willmar, died peacefully at his home at Vista Prairie at Copperleaf on Wednesday, September 20.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 4:00-7:00 pm on Saturday, September 30^th at Raymond Community Center in Raymond.  A meal will be served.  Arrangements are entrusted to the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Bob was born July 17, 1933, in Waterloo, Iowa.  He was an only child born to Guy and Mildred (Sanderson) Miller.  He grew up in Waterloo but spent much of his time at the farm of Glade and Merna Miller outside of Waterloo. 

In 1951, he graduated from West Waterloo High School.  He went on to University of Iowa where he played basketball and baseball until he was drafted into the Army.  Eventually he ended up in Mitchell, SD where he played minor league baseball and finished his bachelor’s degree at Dakota Wesleyan University.  While working at Commercial Bank in Mitchell, he met Janis Chase.  They married on June 26, 1960.

Bob and Jan, along with Bob’s son, Cheyney, moved to Iowa where he started his career in insurance with Kemper Group. They added two daughters, Keri and Kelli, to the family before moving to Minnesota in 1969.   They spent many wonderful years raising their family in Apple Valley before building a home on Lake Ada in Pine River.  They moved to Willmar in 2018.

Bob loved camping and fishing.  The family had many wonderful vacations at campgrounds.  He always managed to turn his love of lakes and camping into a way to make extra money.  He sold Bethany campers and even owned a small summer resort for a few years.   His other hobby, learned from his father, was woodworking.  He spent many hours in his shop making all kinds of furniture and projects that we cherish today.

He is survived by his three children: son, Cheyney Miller, and daughters, Keri Crossnoe of Eagan and Kelli (Wendell) Kienitz of Raymond; five grandchildren, Ryan Crossnoe of Shreveport, LA, Brandon (fiancé Brittney Knable) Crossnoe of Eagan, Trisha (Jake) Demarais of Kerkhoven, Katie (Michael) Hanna of Willmar, and Brady Kienitz of St. Peter; and three great grandchildren, Grayson Hanna, Quinn Hanna, and Claire Demarais.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Janis; his parents; and a son-in-law, Kevin Crossnoe.