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Herbert Frank Miller

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Herbert Frank Miller

Birth
East Bristol, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA
Death
16 Oct 2021 (aged 91)
Portage, Columbia County, Wisconsin, USA
Burial
East Bristol, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Herbert Frank Miller, age 91, passed away peacefully the morning of Saturday, October 16, 2021 at Hamilton Park Place Assisted Living in Portage. Herb was born in East Bristol Dec. 11, 1929 to Herbert and Dora (Getzinger) Miller. Herb started school at St. Joseph's Catholic School in a four room schoolhouse in East Bristol. In 1938 the family moved to Waunakee where he attended St. John's Catholic School.

Nights after school, Saturdays and Summer vacation (weather permitting), Herb worked for Statz Implement. At the age of 13 and 14, Herb would drive new tractors from the International Harvester Co. in Madison to Statz Implement in Waunakee. He received his driver's license when he was 14 years old. Herb later worked for Bob Scheurell Ford Motors in Waunakee as a body man and painter. In 1949 Joe Blum of Sauk City broke him in as a dragline operator. In 1951, Herb was drafted into the Korean War where he was wounded 3 times and then was transferred to the Motor Pool where he made first mechanic in 3 weeks and received a medal of commendation for having the lowest number of dead lined vehicles in his company. He was honorably discharged in 1953.

In 1954, Herb married Nellie Bickel of LaFarge and they had two children, Bob Miller of Waunakee and Ellen Hooper of Hickory, NC. After they divorced in 1965, Herb later married Gloria Denruiter in 1979. She had 3 children, Mike, Jeff and Sue. Gloria died in 2004 from cancer and Parkinson Disease. Herb never remarried.

Herb later worked as a heavy equipment operator for Harrison Engineer of Baraboo for 11 years and was a member of Operators Union 139. He then was employed by Endres Grading for 26 years and then he worked for Tom and Gerry Raemisch for 3 years until his retirement in 1990.

Herb's interest was restoring McCormick-Deering tractors, finding them in junk yards, old barns and along fence lines. Sometimes it took 3 parts tractors to make 1 like new. For entertainment Herb had a cottage on Buffalo Lake in Montello. There he spent time boating, fishing and enjoying a few beers.

Herb is survived by his son Robert "Bob" Miller of Waunakee, daughter Ellen (Rob) Hooper of Hickory NC and grandson, Matthew Hooper, of Norwood, MA. He is also survived by his loving partner Dorothy Casson of Portage and her children Kurt (Lorraine) Casson of Baraboo and Judi Casson of Portage. He is further survived by his brothers; Lester, Gordon (Nancy) Miller and sister Gladys Mulhern.

He was preceded in death by his wife Gloria; parents, brother Paul Miller, sisters Ellen Miller, Doris Whittaker and Mary Jane Hamill; sisters in law Betty Miller and brothers in law Tom Whittaker, Don Hamill, Bill Mulhern and Bill Mack.

Winn-Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
Herbert Frank Miller, age 91, passed away peacefully the morning of Saturday, October 16, 2021 at Hamilton Park Place Assisted Living in Portage. Herb was born in East Bristol Dec. 11, 1929 to Herbert and Dora (Getzinger) Miller. Herb started school at St. Joseph's Catholic School in a four room schoolhouse in East Bristol. In 1938 the family moved to Waunakee where he attended St. John's Catholic School.

Nights after school, Saturdays and Summer vacation (weather permitting), Herb worked for Statz Implement. At the age of 13 and 14, Herb would drive new tractors from the International Harvester Co. in Madison to Statz Implement in Waunakee. He received his driver's license when he was 14 years old. Herb later worked for Bob Scheurell Ford Motors in Waunakee as a body man and painter. In 1949 Joe Blum of Sauk City broke him in as a dragline operator. In 1951, Herb was drafted into the Korean War where he was wounded 3 times and then was transferred to the Motor Pool where he made first mechanic in 3 weeks and received a medal of commendation for having the lowest number of dead lined vehicles in his company. He was honorably discharged in 1953.

In 1954, Herb married Nellie Bickel of LaFarge and they had two children, Bob Miller of Waunakee and Ellen Hooper of Hickory, NC. After they divorced in 1965, Herb later married Gloria Denruiter in 1979. She had 3 children, Mike, Jeff and Sue. Gloria died in 2004 from cancer and Parkinson Disease. Herb never remarried.

Herb later worked as a heavy equipment operator for Harrison Engineer of Baraboo for 11 years and was a member of Operators Union 139. He then was employed by Endres Grading for 26 years and then he worked for Tom and Gerry Raemisch for 3 years until his retirement in 1990.

Herb's interest was restoring McCormick-Deering tractors, finding them in junk yards, old barns and along fence lines. Sometimes it took 3 parts tractors to make 1 like new. For entertainment Herb had a cottage on Buffalo Lake in Montello. There he spent time boating, fishing and enjoying a few beers.

Herb is survived by his son Robert "Bob" Miller of Waunakee, daughter Ellen (Rob) Hooper of Hickory NC and grandson, Matthew Hooper, of Norwood, MA. He is also survived by his loving partner Dorothy Casson of Portage and her children Kurt (Lorraine) Casson of Baraboo and Judi Casson of Portage. He is further survived by his brothers; Lester, Gordon (Nancy) Miller and sister Gladys Mulhern.

He was preceded in death by his wife Gloria; parents, brother Paul Miller, sisters Ellen Miller, Doris Whittaker and Mary Jane Hamill; sisters in law Betty Miller and brothers in law Tom Whittaker, Don Hamill, Bill Mulhern and Bill Mack.

Winn-Cress Funeral & Cremation Service


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