Edwin A. Miller

Edwin A. Miller Prayers for Edwin A. Miller, 76, of rural Elburn will be said at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn. A Mass will follow at 10:30 a.m. at St. Gall Church, Elburn. Monsignor Thomas Dempsey of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church of Crystal Lake will officiate. Following cremation, private interment services will be held later in La Crosse, Wis. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, at the funeral home, where a wake service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Born June 16, 1928, in La Crosse, the son of Fred and Sarah (nee King) Miller, he passed away peacefully Monday, Jan. 10, 2005, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Ed grew up in an area of La Crosse known as "Hungry Point" and spent much of his youth trapping, hunting and fishing with his family and friends. His family owned a cottage home on the Mississippi River in an area known as Shore Acres. Later, a new family bought the cottage next door and he became acquainted with the family's daughter, Rosemary, who would later become his wife. Ed attended Central High School and joined the Navy in December, 1945. He was stationed in Tsing Ta, China, for 2½ years and was honorably discharged in 1949. He returned to La Crosse and began to pursue a railroad career, first by completing telegraph school in Minneapolis and working for the CB&Q Railroad, which later became the Burlington Northern Railroad. Ed began his career as a telegraph operator and tower operator. He and Rosemary were married at St. Wenceslaus Church in La Crosse on Oct. 23, 1954. Ed was station agent in Savanna, Ill., at that time. Ed and Rosemary established their first home in Hanover, Ill. As they started their family, Ed's career took them to several locations, including La Cresent and Hastings, Minn., and Cicero, Ill., where Ed worked as a train dispatcher. The family made their final move to Elburn in 1969. Ed continued working for the railroad until 1986, when the office was moved to Galesburg. Unwilling to relocate his family, Ed lived in Galesburg during the week and made the long commute home for the weekends. After 40 years of service, he retired as a chief train dispatcher in 1990. Ed was a member of St. Gall Church in Elburn, where he served as an usher and was an active member of the men's group. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Loyal Order of Moose, Aurora Lodge #400, the BN Veteran's Club and the Elburn American Legion Post #630. Ed was a warm and loving grandpa, a fantastic storyteller and a man with a wonderful sense of humor. He was an excellent card player, was interested in current events and enjoyed a good political debate. He enjoyed wildlife that came to visit the land around his home, especially the deer and pheasants. A die-hard Cubs fan, Ed spent many hours watching the Cubs play ball. He and Rosemary celebrated 50 years of marriage last October with an intimate celebration with family and friends. His family remained at his side throughout his battle with cancer. Ed leaves behind a legacy for his children and grandchildren rich in wonderful stories and memories. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary of Elburn; children, Mary Beth (Mark) Lies of La Grange, David Miller of Scottsdale, Ariz., Jon (Pam) Miller of Aurora, Sue (John) Sheridan of Geneva and Joel Miller of Lombard; grandchildren, Michael and Alyssa Lies and Brian Beck-Sheridan; and one brother, cousins and a family of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents. Memorials in his name may be mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119, (630)365-6414. Tributes and memorials may also be forwarded to the family through www.conleycare.com.