Charles G. "Chuck" Miller

Charles "Chuck" G. Miller 1942—2017
Charles "Chuck" G. Miller, 74, of Rockford, died suddenly but peacefully at home on February 24, 2017. Chuck excelled at everything he did: he was not going to play one sport, but three: baseball, football and basketball and was a superstar at all of them. He was not going to be drafted once by The Dodgers, but twice. He was not going to just be a Marine, but a fighter pilot who earned both his Marine Corps and Air Force wings at Miramar (Top Gun). Then he said he would fly missions over Vietnam, but not drop bombs, only take pictures. So he flew reconnaissance. This continued when he met Anita Olson, who would become his wife of 46 years, while still in the service. She was a Swedish model who spoke 6 languages. Shortly after their courtship began, Anita was out in the desert doing a modeling shoot. Now, because she was known as a pretty aggressive hippie, no one believed that she could be dating a Marine. That is until Chuck did a flyover of the shoot in his F-4. Anita pointed to the sky and said, "That's my boyfriend!" He was not going to just follow his father's steps into the Presidency of The Testor Corp-he was going to see it through one of its most exciting decades: including the production of the model of the Stealth Airplane that didn't even officially exist. He used the tools taught to him by athletics, business and the military of teamwork, camaraderie, ethics, consistency and honesty as his personal compass. There are so many big stories to describe Chuck Miller, but he was far more comfortable in the small stories. Small stories like offering to be the only daycare for his 4 month old grandson and the the military-like precision he would apply to the diaper tape in the fulfillment of his promise. Small stories like watching his grandsons play baseball on a sunny day or the devotion he showed to his wife after she needed to go into assisted living by visiting her every single day. Chuck's relationships were his proudest achievement: the development and nurturance of them. He loved the people in these relationships openly and freely, almost unheard of for a man of his generation. That is what he would want to be remembered for: not the shiny stuff but as a man who celebrated empathy, rejoiced in compassion and practiced and preached unconditional love. Survivors include the boy who crowned him with the title he was most proud of: Papa, Charles Gustav "Gus" Miller; Emily Miller, mother of Gus, daughter of Chuck; his wife, Anita; daughter, Christa Miller Lawrence and her children, Charlotte, Will and Henry Lawrence; sisters, Susan Saint James Ebersol and Mary Mercedes Miller (John) Dewey. Also by his nieces and nephews including, Amanda Miller Lameyer, Charlie Miller, Jon Miller, Alexandra Dewey Lehrman, Tyler Dewey, Goddaughter, Hannah Dewey, Camilla Soderborg Johnson, Pernilla Soderbor. Also survived by his O'Brien cousins, including Virginia; and sister-in-law, Tracy Miller. Predeceased by his glorious parents, Charles D. and Constance G. Miller; beloved brother, David Miller; niece, Meegan Miller; nephew, Teddy; and best friend, Jerry Wexler.
A visitation will be held a month prior to the ceremony from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, March, 10, 2017, in Olson's North Main Chapel, 2811 N. Main St Rockford. Chuck's funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April, 8, 2017, in the North Main Chapel, with Pastor TroyAnn Poulopoulos officiating. Burial in Scandinavian Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Miller Legacy Trust c/o BMO Harris Bank, Brynwood Branch, 2705 N. Mulford Rd., Rockford, IL 61114. Arrangements by Olson Funeral & Cremation Services, Ltd. To share a memory or send an online condolence, visit olsonfh.com