Vernon "Pete" Leroy Miller

Vernon (Vern), also known as “Pete”, Leroy Miller, age 76 of Savanna, Illinois died on Saturday, May 15, 2010 at Big Meadows Nursing Home, Savanna. Cremation rites will be accorded. A private family celebration of Vern’s life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to Genesis Hospice of Clinton, 611 North Second Street, Clinton, Iowa 52732 in Vern’s memory.

Vern was born on July 28, 1933, in Mt. Carroll, Illinois, the son of Charles and Ethel (Robertson) Miller. He attended Mt. Carroll Schools. Vern honorably served in the United States Army Special Forces during the Korean War. On July 18, 1953 he married Flossie Basten in Camanche, Iowa. Flossie died April 26, 1996 in Savanna, Illinois.

Vern worked for Savanna City Products Ice House for fifteen years and the Milwaukee Railroad for several years. For the last nineteen years he worked for Rolling Hills Progress Center, Lanark, Illinois, retiring February 2010. He enjoyed fishing and picking morel mushrooms, and spending time with his many friends at Rolling Hills Progress Center. Most important to Vern was spending time with his family. He was a kind, gentle man who was very proud of his family.

Vern will be loving missed by his daughter, Verna (Timothy) Mitchell of Savanna; a son, Milo (Kelly) Miller of Roscoe, Illinois; two grandchildren, Amanda McCaughey and Jordan Miller; one step-grandchild, Samantha Mitchell; two sisters, Della (Roy) Fox of Mt. Carroll, Illinois and Ethel Stevens of Washington and a brother, Charles Miller of Arizona.

Vern was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Flossie; three brothers, (one at birth) and a sister.