Robert Miller Jr. '84

Robert Miller Jr. '84

Robert MillerRobert I. Miller Jr. entered into rest on Sunday, November 3, 2024. He was born on February 22, 1961, to Robert I. Miller Sr. and Beverly (Gregg) Miller in Wahoo, NE

He graduated from Wahoo Public Schools in May 1979. The following fall he attended the University of Nebraska where he was a walk on for the Huskers. After a semester at the University, he determined that it wasn’t a good fit and wanted to quit. However, he received a call from Coach Watchhorn at Midland Lutheran College to come and play football for them.

This didn’t come as a tough decision because the love of his life attended Midland Lutheran College. While at Midland, Rob competed in football and track. His senior year of college, he won the George Petrow Award.

On June 4, 1983, he married Mary Johnson. To this union, three daughters were born, Ashlee, Erica and Michaela. His family was extremely important to him. If he wasn’t tackling the honey do list Mary had for him, he was sitting on a bucket catching a softball or practicing his next singing duet with his oldest. When the grandkids came around, he was all about teaching them a thing or two about sports or having them help with house repairs. His fur grandkids weren’t left out either, you could see him slipping them table scraps or throwing a ball around in the yard.

Working with lumber was ingrained in him at an early age. His first exposure was when he started helping his dad and uncles at Miller Lumber in Wahoo. While in college, he took his knowledge of lumber and worked at Korshoj Lumber in Fremont, NE. After graduation at Midland, he took on an assistant manager position at Chicago Lumber in Papillion, NE, eventually he was promoted to manager. When the store closed, he took on a new role as outside salesman at Christensen Lumber in Fremont, NE. After leaving there he worked at several other lumberyards, but eventually his ability to do the job was hindered by his health, so he retired.

The community of Wahoo always held a special place in his heart. He gave back to the community in multiple ways. He took an active role in his church by serving on the church council, middle school ministry leader, church choir, and helping with various projects around the church. He also gave support to his alma mater by serving on the Wahoo School Board and working the chain gang for Friday night football games. He even appeared in the Music Man presented by the Wahoo High School. Rob enjoyed sharing his passion for sports with others. He volunteered his time with coaching softball and Wahoops. When he wasn’t volunteering his time coaching, he was umpiring softball. Music was another passion, and he shared this talent by participating in many groups including the community choir and The Pathfinders Barbershop Chorus in Fremont.

He is survived by wife Mary; daughters Ashlee (Paul) Swanson, Erica (Rob) Reinhard, Michaela Miller; grandchildren Caleb, Caitlynn, Caiden; sisters Shelli (Jim) Swartz, Stacy (Joe) Walker; mother-in-law Dorothy Johnson; brothers-in-law Marc (Angie) Johnson, Paul (Lori) Johnson; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.