Leonard R. Miller

LEONARD R. MILLER
LOVING HUSBAND, FATHER, GRANDFATHER

Leonard R. Miller, 77, of Rockford passed away Tuesday, November 20, 2007 in his home after a short but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. nbsp;Born in Milbank, S.D. the son of Charles E. and Esther (Speckeen) Miller. He grew up in Polo, IL and attended elementary and high school in Polo. He attended the school of architecture at the University of Illinois in Champaign. nbsp;Leonard married Carole L. Lagesen on May 18, 1957 in the Bethany Methodist Church in Ludington, MI. nbsp;He was a licensed architect in the state of Illinois and practiced architecture in Rockford with Johnson-Kile-Seehausen and Robert Lofton amp; Associates where he was the vice president. nbsp;He culminated his professional career as a partner in the architectural firm of Winters- Barr- Truitt and Miller. He also served as the architectural plan reviewer for the City of Loves Park. nbsp;Leonard was a member of the American Institute of Architects and a past board member of the University of Illinois extension service. nbsp;He was a member of the Sigma chapter of the Chi Phi Fraternity, the Ostende dance club, and the Rockford Kiwanis Club. nbsp;He also served as chairman of the 1980 Kiwanis Pancake Day event. Leonard enjoyed traveling with his family and friends on multiple international trips to locations including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Morroco, and Mexico. nbsp;He loved snow skiing in the Austrian Alps, Colorado, Michigan and Wisconsin. nbsp;Tennis was another of his favorite sports along with summertime water sports at his family cottage on Castle Rock Lake (Wisconsin) where he was an avid boater and personal watercraft enthusiast. nbsp;Leonard encouraged his grandchildren to pursue music and enjoyed listening to them. nbsp;He is loved dearly and will be missed by all. nbsp; He is survived by his wife Carole, son Lance Frederick. (Marianne) Miller, Rockford, IL; daughter Andrea Jeanne (Lee E.) DeSmith, Mahomet, IL. Grandchildren Carl Frederick Miller, Ellen Anne Miller, Mark Leonard Miller, Lauren Elizabeth DeSmith and Brooke Caroline DeSmith. nbsp;Sisters Gladys L. Haring, Alice L. Brown and Hazel Dorsey. Brother Kenneth (Naomi) Miller. Sisters- inlaw and brothers- in- law Janet amp; Harlan Bane and Margot amp; James King. Numerous loving nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents. nbsp; Funeral Service will be Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. in Christ United Methodist Church, 4509 Highcrest Rd., Rockford, IL 61107. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday in Fitzgerald Funeral Home amp; Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd., Rockford, IL 61108, and from 9 until 10 a.m. Saturday in the church. Interment will be in Fairmont Cemetery, Polo, IL. Memorials can be made to the Michael Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, 910 W. Van Buren, 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60607 or Christ United Methodist Church or Chi Phi Fraternity, 1160 Satellite Blvd., Suwanee, GA 30024 (Sigma recolonization in memory of Leonard Miller). To express condolences online please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com.