Douglas L. "Doug" Miller

Douglas L. Miller, 84, passed away at his rural Solon home Friday, March 13, 2026. Visitation will be held Saturday, March 28 at the Cedar Memorial Chapel State Room from 9:00-10:45 a.m. followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. Lunch follows at 12 p.m. at the Cedar Memorial Family Center. Burial will be later at Restland Cemetery in Baxter.

Doug was the son of Leighton and Margaret Miller. He spent his childhood in Omaha, Nebraska. After high school, he graduated from Carleton College with a degree in English. He earned two advanced degrees from the University of Iowa, one in Speech and Language and the other in the Writing Program. He worked as a speech clinician with Grant Wood AEA and later taught Composition at Kirkwood Community College.

Doug enjoyed and valued both reading and writing. Words, phrases, nuances and timing were important-not just in formal communication or classical literature, but in daily communication. He appreciated eloquence and finding the precise words to express the meaning he intended. His annual holiday letters, replete with carefully chosen words and phrases, conveyed more than the message. They demonstrated his affection for the recipient with the time and attention he gave to composing the letter.

Doug was not a simple wordsmith who used unique words or phrases to impress others. He was a creative writer, a linguist, storyteller, and poet, all wrapped up in one delightful combination. He was an excellent writer, who always strove to become even better. He valued carefully crafted language and style without becoming an intellectual snob. His respect for the message and the listener required careful and deliberate attention to detail. He could also be playful with language, making up silly songs or rhymes to pass the long hours of a road trip.

Doug was enthralled with the natural world. He could be described simply as an outdoorsman or a hunter and fisherman. However, given Doug's love of language, he would be better described as an explorer, a naturalist, a nature lover, a friend of the earth, an environmentalist, and a conservationist. One of his favorite places was his cabin in northern Minnesota, where he would delight in teaching first his kids, and then his grandkids, the thrill of the catch and make famous the phrase "just one more cast." His meticulous method of cleaning fish and his delicious fish fry at the end of the week will not soon be forgotten.

Doug was thoughtful and considerate. He was soft-spoken and humble. He appreciated other people's interests and hobbies: it was a rare gathering where Doug had not brought clipped stories or recipes to share. He would reminisce about prior conversations and share thoughts that showed he had been pondering those prior conversations-and deeply valued them.

Men of Doug's era were not encouraged to share their feelings. Doug broke that expectation in the best of ways. Somehow, he was able to balance and find value in the past, the present, and the future-all in a consistent theme. He could share fond memories of his childhood, especially of time spent at the Minnesota cabin, live in the moment enjoying dinner with friends, and hope for a better future for his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marilyn, daughters Lisa Hendrickson, and Laura (Doug) Savant; stepchildren Jeffrey (Erin) Johnson, Dr. Jill (Michael) Gilhooly, and Jim (Tania) Johnson; grandchildren and step grandchildren Alec (Kira) Hendrickson, Samantha Hendrickson (Rick Smith), Ari (Nicklas) Vedin, Madeline (Connor) Dault, Jack and Lucy Savant, Kai, Cam, Andrew, and Piper Johnson; great grandchildren Josephine and Grayson Dault and Amelia Hendrickson; his ex-wife Melanie (Rick) Scupham and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Friends of Iowa PBS, the American Cancer Society, or the charity of your choice.