James E Miller

James E. "Jim" Miller, born in July 1936, passed away peacefully at his home in St Charles, IL, on August 30, 2024.

Jim was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, in-law, and friend who will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his children, Julie Miller-Longo (husband Don Longo) and Dan Miller; his granddaughter, Bailey Calderon (husband Blake Calderon); and his great-grandson, Chase Calderon. He also leaves behind his brothers, Gerald Miller and Richard Miller (wife Carol Miller) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jim was predeceased by his beloved wife, Jane Miller (nee Buell); his parents, Mary Jane Miller (nee Rogers) and Harold Miller; and his brother, Donald Miller.

Jim (aka "Harry") grew up in Batavia, IL, living with his parents and his three brothers in a 2-bedroom house across from the Louise White School, which was built in 1893 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Their house was raucous and filled with love. He had a close-knit family with grandparents that lived blocks away and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins who lived nearby. They all enjoyed each other's company and gathered frequently.

Jim played baseball and football for Batavia High School and graduated in 1954. After high school, he worked in Wheaton, IL, for the CA&E (Chicago Aurora & Elgin) Railroad until it closed abruptly on Wednesday, July 3, 1957. During this period, Jim also enjoyed hunting, which he learned from his uncles. His brother recalled Jim bringing game home for his family to eat for dinner on numerous occasions.



After being drafted, Jim served in the Army for two years, during which he enjoyed meeting people from all over the country. He worked as a Company Clerk at Fort Lee (now Fort Gregg-Adams) in Virginia and played baseball for an army team during his service.

After his military service, Jim dedicated nearly 40 years to Northern Illinois Gas, now known as Nicor, where he worked in the print shop. He was a well-respected colleague, known for his hard work, integrity, and commitment to excellence.

Jim was a devoted family man, and his love for his family was evident in everything he did. As a young father, he played catch with his children in the backyard, took them to movies and on yearly outings to amusement parks, the zoo, and Chicago White Sox games. As a retiree, he was instrumental in raising his granddaughter by picking her up from school, helping her with her homework, and taking her to Girl Scout meetings, where he was a favorite amongst the mothers. In later years, he and his wife enjoyed getting together with his brothers and sisters-in-law for breakfasts at Andres Restaurant in Batavia, where the kind owners would let them stay for hours to laugh and reminisce.



Jim would have been married to his beloved late wife, Janie, for 60 years this October. They lived in their house on Dean Street, across from his in-laws, the entire time. They were good neighbors. Jim took pride in his lawn and took great satisfaction in yard work. He was fastidious about the upkeep of his cars and spent time in the garage, washing and waxing them, to ensure they were always shiny. He was also a master of restoration, an upcycler of secondhand items that his wife acquired, well before it was fashionable to do so.

Jim had a deep affection for dogs, and his canine companions, Bobo, Fluffy, and Taffy, as well as the dogs of his family and neighbors, brought him great joy throughout his life.

A true sports enthusiast, Jim loved nothing more than watching and talking about sports. His favorite teams were the Chicago White Sox and the Green Bay Packers. His passion for sports was infectious, and he could often be seen at the grocery store in his teams' apparel, striking up a conversation with fellow fans. He delighted in calling his Bears fan-nephew, Kirk, after Bears/Packers games to rub it in that his team won (again and again and again) and it always amused Kirk that his Uncle Jim wouldn't even say who he was when he picked up the phone - he would just giggle! Jim also very much enjoyed talking about sports with his former colleague and cherished friend, Jeff Hagstotz. Upon learning that he had limited time remaining on earth, Jim's only lament was that he wouldn't see the 2024 - 2025 football season that he had been so looking forward to.



In accordance with Jim's wishes, there will be no memorial service.



Jim's warmth, kindness, humor, and unwavering support for those he loved will never be forgotten. His memory will live on in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know him.