Leo J. Miller

DIXON – Leo J. Miller, 90, of Dixon, died Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at his home.

Leo J. Miller, the son of Edward C. and Lenora (Tehan) Miller, was born Jan. 23, 1919, in Montmorency Township, Whiteside County, in the farmhouse he still owned. He graduated from Community High School, Sterling, in 1938.

Shortly after Pearl Harbor, Leo enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served his country until Sept. 3, 1945. He flew 50 missions over Europe, as a nose gunner in B-24s. His planes were fortunate in not having any casualties.

On Nov. 3, 1945, Leo married Helen Louise Egan at St. Mary Church, Tampico. The Revs. P.V. Egan of Gilman, Thos. Maguire of Tampico, and David Murphy of St. Flannen, Harmon, officiated at the 8:30 a.m. Solemn High Mass.

He farmed extensively in the Harmon, Rock Falls, Sterling, Dixon, and Rochelle areas until 2000. Leo was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Dixon, a lifetime member of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Sierra Club for many years.

He was on the planning committee for Sauk Valley Community College and served on the drainage district board of Hahnaman and Montmorency.

Survivors include his wife, Helen Miller; his brother, Edward P. (Mary Lorraine) Miller of Dixon; Leo’s seven children, Joseph L. (Kathy) Miller, Marlene (James) Ackert, Patricia (Harold) Conway, Teresa (Joseph) Velazquez, Kathy (Kenneth) McMunn, Maureen (Jeffery) Fischbach, and Mary Ann (Craig) Hurd; 28 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren. Many nieces and nephews also survive him.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and four sisters, Edna Clinton, Helen Cooper, Rita Devine, and Mabel Lockshire.

Celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Dixon, with the Rev. James R. Kennan, celebrant, officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Sterling. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., with a Christian wake service at 7:30 p.m., Friday at McDonald Funeral Home, 1002 12th Ave., Rock Falls.

Condolences may be sent at www.mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com on the Internet.