8/23/1949 – 12/16/2024
Lawrence
Michael Raymond Miller “Mike” died peacefully in his home on December 16, 2024. He was born on August 23, 1949, in Independence, Iowa, to James and Janet Miller. He graduated from Shattuck-St.Mary’s, Minnesota, in 1967, earned a bachelor’s degree of Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1976, and earned his Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kansas in 1982.
He married Barbara Miller (Armstead) on October 11, 1970 at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. They celebrated their 54th anniversary this year, and she survives of the home.
Other survivors include a daughter, Patricia Gooldy (Jay), Minneola, KS; a sister, Cyndi Brickman (Dave), Harpers Ferry, Iowa and Mission, Texas; a grandchild, Link Pollet, Junction City, Kansas; a step-granddaughter, Rachel Gooldy, Manhattan, Kansas; and all his nieces and nephews. Mr. Miller served the U.S. Navy for 20 years, retiring in 1988 as a Lieutenant Commander. He then worked at Hall Kimbrell until joining the University of Kansas Facility Operations in 1990 and retired in 2011 after service of 22 years.
Mr. Miller was extremely active in the community of Lawrence, Kansas, making lifelong friendships, and touching many lives throughout all of the activities. He was a member of the Luncheon Optimists, American Legion, Military Officers Association of America, and Redeemer Lutheran Church. Mr. Miller was a lifelong bowler. He was involved in the Young American Bowling
Association for at least 25 years where he started as a coach, then co-directing, then coaching Lawrence’s Youth Bowling program through Royal Crest Lanes. During his time there, he built up the Youth Scholarship in the program. He became the “face of youth bowling”. Young bowlers filled the bowling alley each Saturday morning. He loved working with young bowlers of all ages, making a difference in their lives, many maintained contact into adulthood. He holds a place in his heart for all of them. He was inducted into the Kansas Bowler’s Hall of Fame for all of his work in the Lawrence youth bowling league.
Mr. Miller loved his church family at Redeemer Lutheran since joining in 1993. He was very active in his membership, helping the church anyway he could while also attending many activities they offered. He was a “social butterfly” who loved making new friends, and seeing people daily.
All services will be held on Saturday, January 4th, 2025 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2700 Lawrence Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66047. A visitation will begin at 9 am, the funeral mass service at 10:30 am. The family suggests memorial contributions to Redeemer Lutheran Church with Love Fund in the memo line, and Lawrence YABA for the scholarship fund sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home: P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044. Online condolences may be sent at www.rumsey-yost.com.
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