Micheal Dean Miller

Micheal Dean Miller

January 17, 1957 – July 9, 2022

It is with deep sorrow and much love that the family mourns the passing of Mike D. Miller, age 65.  He peacefully passed in the comfort of his home in Omaha on July 9, 2022.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICES: Saturday, July 16^th at 11am, West Center Chapel.  Interment, Forest Lawn.  In lieu of flowers, memorials will be directed by the family.

To view live broadcasts of the Funeral and Graveside Services, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “View Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.

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Mike was born on January 17, 1957 to Marvin Miller and the late Patricia Cox in Omaha NE.  He was number three of four Miller children.  Native of Nebraska, he lived his entire life here in the flatlands. Mike’s early childhood was full of adventures with his siblings and playing by the hour with neighborhood friends.  A boy with unbridled energy and a natural born athlete, he especially enjoyed walking along on the planks above the livestock pens at the Omaha Stock Yards and walking the steel beams on the South Omaha Bridge. Mike’s family became blended homes where the number of siblings grew to a total of 11 from coast to coast.

Mike exceled in Track & Field as a teen and graduated from South High School in 1975; he was a walk-on recruit for Bellevue College where he played Basket Ball and made several lifetime friends. Married in 1979 to Laura McDonald, he was blessed with three children as a young adult while working fulltime for UPS.  Mike returned to single life and retired from UPS after 10 years. He then worked different skilled labor positions during the time his children were growing up. He stayed active with sports and played recreational softball, sand volleyball, basketball, and golf, and refereed’/umpired part-time on a regular basis. Mike went to work for Nebraska Furniture Mart (NFM) in 1996.  In 1999 Mike met and married Joyce Andersen and became a stepfather to her three children, and the Miller-Andersen clan was forged.

The family enjoyed swimming and Jet Ski recreation at Fremont Lakes, backyard movie nights, and the annual Father’s Day croquet game with water balloon fights. Easter relay games and egg hunts became a tradition that was passed on to the grandchildren.  Christmas was Mike’s favorite holiday, and his greatest joy was seeing the look on the children’s faces when opening gifts. The Durham Museum during the Christmas season was his favorite place for the clan to come together, take pictures, and spoil the kids a little at the old fashioned soda fountain.

Mike was baptized on June 8, 2003, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Omaha, NE.

He was able to retire early from NFM after 22 years of service.  As an avid golfer he enjoyed several years of tee times with family and friends.  Hobbies included being a loyal Huskers fan, woodworking projects, and Star Wars and Marvel story plot debates with the children/grands. His favorite Sunday dinner was Roast Beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, and a slice of French Silk pie from Village Inn.  Mike always loved the babies and waited patiently for his turn to cuddle, care for, and play with them.

After retirement, his bucket list was fulfilled one goal at a time.  He traveled to Hawaii. Touring Pearl Harbor and the restored Mississippi battleship was a very moving experience for him.  Playing Arnold Palmer Golf course was a big highlight of his trip.  The children sent “The Folks” on an all expenses paid trip to New York where they enjoyed seeing Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Ground Zero, and dressed to the nines for an evening out to the theatre to see “Wicked”.

Mike peacefully passed in the comfort of his home in Dundee on July 9, 2022 after a 5.5 year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia Cox (Miller) Bober; stepfather, Jim Bober; and brother, David Bober. He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Joyce Miller-Andersen; his father, Marvin E. Miller (Margaret); siblings: Skip Miller, Mitzi Miller Navarro (Joe), Karen Bober, Candee Miller Rocha, Mike Beam (Vantrease), Butch Bober (Sue), Rita Bober Hanson, Jim Bober (Diane), Jolene Henry (Steve), and Judy Page (John); sister-in-law, Sharon Crystal (Tommy); children: Justin Miller (Laura Beth), Darius Miller, Sarah Miller Cavric (John), Jesse Andersen (Amanda), Jenny Andersen Campbell (Nolan), Jase Andersen (Ashlynn), and Janice Miller; grandchildren: Skylar (Caleb), Natalee, Elliot, Indigo, Rylie, Bella, Scarlett, Charlotte, Theo, and Julian; many aunts and uncles; cousins; nieces and nephews.

Each day after he retired, Mike met the day with being grateful to God for giving him one more day. He disciplined himself to be productive with his “house husband” chores” (a name he appointed himself) before heading out to “play”.   He enjoyed many good social contacts, always looked for the best in people, cheered the children and grands on in their studies, and taught them to adopt good sportsmanship when competing.  Mike was a man of courage, quiet patience, and unswerving dedication to protecting and nurturing all of the people that were under his umbrella of love.  He will be deeply missed.