Herbert Miller

Miller, Herbert F.

Portage / Waunakee:  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 4 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, his daughter Ellen (Rob) Hooper of Hickory NC, and a 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.

A visitation will be held from 9:00 am until 11:00 am on Monday, October 25, 2021 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 209 South Street, Waunakee, WI  53597.  A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 am.

The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the Agrace Team of Baraboo; Brianna, Natalie, Alysa, Amy and Dan.  The kindness, love and attention you gave our dad was heartwarming.  You treated our dad like family and you will always remain in our hearts.  A thank you also to the staff of Hamilton Park Place Assisted Living Facility in Portage.

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com

Winn-Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

5785 Hwy Q, Waunakee

(608) 849-4513