William "Bill" Miller
William ‘Bill’ Miller
The funeral Mass for William E. Miller was conducted at 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 15, 2014, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rochester co-officiated by Revs. Charlie Collins and Paul Nelson. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery with graveside military rites by American Legion Post 92. Visitation was Sunday, Dec. 14, in River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.
Mr. Miller, 83, of Rochester died Tuesday, December 9, 2014, at Seasons Hospice.
William Edward Miller was born September 2, 1931, at LaCrosse, Wisc., to Walter and Hazel (Tierney) Miller. He grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from John Marshall University High School. From 1946 to 1951 he worked for Gordon Displays, building and driving parade floats for the Minneapolis Aquatenniel and St. Paul Winter Carnival. From 1951 to 1953 he served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Wold Chamberlain Airfield in Minneapolis.
Following military service, Bill attended Dunwoody Technical Institute and graduated with an electrical degree. He worked for IBM for 37 years in various capacities including customer engineer, instructor and service planning before retiring in 1991. He had resided in Milwaukee and Fond du Lac before moving to Rochester in 1963.
On May 14, 1955, he married Noreen Jane Budd at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Minneapolis. The couple had four sons. Noreen passed away March 15, 1965. On August 5, 1967 Bill married Julene Thuer. She is a retired teacher and the adoptive mother of Bill’s sons.
Bill was a long-time member of St. Pius X Catholic Church where he sang in the choir. He was also a member of the Rochester Barbershop Chorus. He enjoyed geneology, woodworking, bowling, golf and travel.
Survivors include his wife, Julene; four sons: Daniel E. (Connie Moselle) Miller of Maple Grove, Christopher J. (Julie Lawler) Miller of Rochester, Thomas R. (Jane Korducki) Miller of Onalaska, Wisc., and Robert F. (Patricia Moran) Miller. Surviving grandchildren include Rebekah, Seth, Anne, William, Katie, Andrew, Clare and Patrick Miller, Andrew Harrison, Joshua (Kristen Finelle) Miller, Peter (Meagan Finnegan) Miller, Emma (Blake) Davis, Sarah (Matt Miller) Miller and great-grandchildren Brynne Miller and Elijah Davis. A brother, James Miller of Hopkins, also survives. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Noreen; four brothers and one sister.
Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com