Bob Miller

Bob Miller was a strong, dedicated man who took great joy in the world around him. With a love for country music and the color red, Bob loved the simple things in life, like camping with his family or cooking up a hot loaf of bread. A handy man who could fix anything, Bob was most importantly a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend.

Times were tough in the year 1930, when Bob's story begins. With the nation still in shock after the stock market crash of 1929, the United States continued to fall into a time of deep economic depression. As unemployment rose, jobs grew scarcer, and the nation looked to its government for aid. Despite federal efforts, the nation found itself facing a decade of hardship. But in Otsego, Michigan, Harold and Pearl (Cole) Miller were distracted from the troubles around them as they prepared their home for the arrival of a new baby. One hot summer day, on August 12, 1930, they welcomed a new little life into the world, a son who they named Bob.

Bob spent his childhood in Plainwell, Michigan, the oldest of Harold and Pearl (Cole) Miller's three children. While Bob's father, Harold, worked as a millwright and a woodworker to support his family's financial needs, his mother, Pearl, worked as a homemaker to create a wonderful place for her children to grow. When Bob was in high school, he was involved in track and field, and proudly earned his varsity letter. While he was in school, Bob worked many odd jobs to earn money as well. He proudly graduated with his class from Plainwell High School.

After graduation, Bob attended college at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo for several semesters, where he studied architecture. For a time, he worked as a milkman in Plainwell, and also volunteered for the fire department. Later, he became a firefighter for the City of Kalamazoo. At the time of Bob's retirement in 1989, he had worked for 24 years as a Metro Transit Maintenance Supervisor for the City of Kalamazoo.

Following his time at WMU, Bob married and started a family with his wife. During their twenty years of marriage, they had three wonderful children together, Mike, Terrance and Cindy. After their divorce, Bob met a woman named Louella "Lou" Sutcliffe. A mother of three herself, Lou was everything Bob could hope for, and the two fell in love. On April 25, 1970, Bob and Lou exchanged vows, and became husband and wife. They lived in Kalamazoo, where they enjoyed a happy life together as a family. Bob was very active with the kids, and served as a coach for Oakwood Little League.

In his spare time, Bob liked spending time outdoors, and enjoyed camping at Schnabel Lake and Thunder Lake. In his younger years, he also enjoyed hunting and fishing. A very handy man, Bob could fix almost anything, and was skilled at woodworking. Unfortunately, after a wood working accident which resulted in him damaging three fingers, Bob lost his love for the hobby. After retiring, Bob took many day trips, and enjoyed traveling to Las Vegas, California and Hawaii. He always held a fondness for cooking as well. When he worked as a fireman, he would often cook and make homemade bread. Bob could cook up a great poor-man's dish as well, and loved eating chili--the hotter the better. Unfortunately, Bob had MS, and as he grew older dementia began to set in as well. He spent his last three years in a nursing home, where he cherished his candy drawer and was affectionately known to be a feisty resident.

With a love for country music and inexpensive cookies, Bob Miller found joy in the simple things in life, like spending time traveling with his wife or cooking up chili for his family. A strong, sometimes stubborn man, Bob was handy and could fix almost anything, and loved lending a hand. A beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, Bob will be dearly missed, and fondly remembered.

Bob died on Thursday, March 3, 2011 in Galesburg, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his parents and by a step-son, Mark Sutcliffe. Surviving are his wife of 40 years, Louella Miller; 5 children: Mike (Judith) Miller, Terrance Miller, Cindy (Ed) Dean, Scott (Cheryl) Sutcliffe and William (Kelly) Sutcliffe; 13 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; 2 siblings: Dona (Everett) Gilson and Butch (Frances) Miller and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, 3PM at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo; 6080 Stadium Drive, 375-2900 where visitation will start at 2PM. Burial will take place at Mt. EverRest Cemetery. Please visit Bob’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read his Life Story, archive a memory or photo or sign his memory book before coming to the funeral home. Memorial donations may be directed to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan or Oakwood Bible Church.