William (Bill) M. Miller, 72, passed away peacefully at home in Sun Lakes, AZ on December 3, 2017.
Bill was born on April 6, 1945 to Marvin and Marjorie (Cameron) Miller in Eau Claire, WI. He grew up on Locust Lane, as did his children. Bill was a proud member of Eau Claire North’s first graduating class in 1963; Go Rebels! After high school he attended UWEC, leaving early to join the National Guard and to work in banking. He was a longtime employee of American National Bank and Citizens Community Credit Union in Eau Claire and later President of Alliance Credit Union in Waukesha.
Bill married Teri (Christensen) in 1966 and had three children. He married Lynne Sturgal in 1983. He met Karen Bloss while ‘wintering’ in Arizona; they married in 2011, making the Phoenix area his permanent retirement home.
Bill is survived by his wife Karen, his father Marvin H. Miller of Eau Claire, his daughters Jody (Joe) Yray of Hudson and Wendy Sue (Michael) Johnson of Eau Claire, his son Jason Miller of Eau Claire, his brother John (Colleen) Miller of Red Wing, MN, and his grandchildren Elizabeth Yray, Hannah Getten and Lukas Johnson, Ashton, Alei and Jordan Miller. They describe Grandpa Bill as hilarious, goofy, enthusiastic, lively, happy and witty. He passionately loved the Packers, golfing with his buddies, winning at the casino, his grandchildren, and being right.
He is also survived by Karen’s daughters Tammy (Chris) Atherton, Crystal (Jeff) Howard, Heather McDougall (Glenn Patton Jr) and Megan (Chuck) Christensen and their children Connor, Cooper, Madison, Terra, Max, Brock, Cade and Gage. He was preceded in death by his mother and his sister, Janice.
A Memorial Service was held December 9 at Hansen Desert Hills Mortuary and Memorial Park, Scottsdale, AZ.
Visitation will be held Sunday December 17, 2017 from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Smith Funeral Chapel, 2222 London Road, Eau Claire with a short memorial service at 5:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Bill’s honor to Hospice of the Valley https://www.hov.org/donate/ or Eau Claire North https://www.ecpsfound.org/make-donation/ (choose a fund or type ‘North Dance Legacy Scholarship’).
‘Go Rebels’, you ask?…one of my favorite stories. The administration brought the students who would be moving to the new high school into the Memorial auditorium in the fall of 1962 to choose the school colors and mascot. They were given a short list of choices to pick from. The students wrote in ‘gray and red’ and ‘Rebels’, presumably to match their identity as the break-away group from the ‘wrong’ side of town. The students were brought in a second time and told to choose from the list. Again, ‘gray and red’ and ‘Rebels’. The third time they were told if they did not choose from the list then the administration would choose for them. The first ECN student body settled on Columbia blue & white (the red accent came about 10 years later) and Huskies.
Bill was part of our old gang at North H. S. He will be missed.
Billy was a great friend! We shared so many great times together. I am so glad that I was able to say goodbye to him over the phone. I will surely miss my good friend. But I am thankful for the friendship we shared.
My condolences to Bills family. I’m remembering good times on the farm and family reunions……good memories. Love you Marv. Cousin Judy Mattison Scheidegger
Cousins are special and Billy was no exception to this. Charming, funny, and always with a smile on his face. We will miss him. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends. May he rest with the angels that are awaiting his arrival.
Our sincere condolences to the entire Miller family.