Robert Lee 'Bob' Miller

NEENAH, Wis. - One of Lake Poygan's finest duck hunters, Robert L. Miller, 79, left this life on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, after living with multiple myeloma for 11 1/2 years.

Bob was born Sept. 7, 1937, in Appleton, the second child of Nathan C. and Millicent (Eisenach) Miller. He graduated from Menasha High School in 1955, and began a career in the printing industry at the George Banta Company while still in high school. He started in the prep department and transferred to the customer service department as a service director in the mid-'60s. He was promoted to group leader of customer service and retired as manager of Banta Graphic Services in 1996, after 41 years of dedicated service.

Bob will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 29 years, Sari (Dowling) Miller; children, Sarah (Tim) Long, Bergland, Mich., Anne (CDR Tom) Decker, Chesapeake, Va., and Brad (Sandy) Miller, Neenah. He was a very proud grandfather of six beautiful granddaughters, Whitney (Derek) Fisher, Alexus Decker, MaKenzie Long, Lauren Miller, Rebecca Miller and Natalie Miller; stepgrandchildren, Kelvin and Courtney Long and Kylie Decker Fondriest; and two great-grandchildren, Liberty and Brady Fisher. He is further survived by his four-legged companion, Lily; brother, Tom (Jeanne) Miller, Sun City, Ariz .; sister, Judy (Don) Otto, Menasha; stepbrother, Dick (Mary) Wolff; stepsister, Joan (Lyman) Depner; sister-in-law, Carolyn Miller; brothers-in-law, Bill (Sarah) Dowling and Colin (Bonnie) Dowling; nieces and nephews; and the mother of his children from his first marriage, Roxann Miller. Bob especially appreciated the deep friendship of Dick Houck, Ann Sherman and Herb Pugmire, Ted Pontow, Al Marsh, Bob Bohannon and Bill Klein.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother, Sadie (Wolff) Miller; brother, James L. Miller; and stepsisters, Helen Borree and Bubsie Mielke.

Bob loved duck hunting on Lake Poygan, in south Texas and in Canada, deer hunting, fishing and gardening. He loved fishing at Wine Lake Camp, Canada, where he went for more than 55 years. He enjoyed the trips there with Sari, dad, brother, Jim, son, Brad, nephews, Dean and Keith Miller and many dear friends. It was his favorite place in the world to be and he cherished his time there. It was the one place on earth where he truly relaxed.

He was especially good at cooking; no one put on a better fish fry, made better potato pancakes or salsa than Bob. He enjoyed watching the Packers, Badgers and Brewers. Bob was extremely proud of his baseball years as a catcher at Menasha High and for the Menasha Macs.

Bob served our country with pride and was part of the Wisconsin National Guard Company E 127th Division for eight years. His division was summoned to Fort Lewis, Wash., during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. He was a member of St. Joseph Parish, Appleton, the Knights of Columbus Nicolet Council 1838, Wisconsin Waterfowlers, Lake Poygan Sportsman Club, American Legion Post 38, Appleton, the American Fishing Club, and was a past president and director of the Banta Credit Union.

Bob had a strong and remarkable will to live and did not let cancer's difficult treatments hold him back from doing the things he loved. He stayed with us as long as he could and his humor, determination and perseverance was an inspiration.

A memorial mass for Bob will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 404 W Lawrence Street, Appleton, with Father Jim Leary OFM Cap. officiating. Interment will be in St. Margaret Cemetery, Neenah.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m., Wednesday at the church until the time of the Mass. Military honors will be presented by active duty members of the U.S. Army and the American Legion Post 38, Appleton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lake Poygan Sportsman Club or to the Multiple Myeloma Society.

The family wishes to express a special thank you to ThedaCare Regional Medical Center, Appleton staff, especially Rachel, Amy, Alicia and Becca for their kind and compassionate care of Bob. Also a big thank you to FVHO nurses, doctors and staff over the years who cared for Bob.