Duane Miller

Duane F. Miller, age 85, of Bangor, MI passed away at home April 29, 2017. Duane was born April 16, 1932 in Bloomingdale the son of Charles and Elsa Miller. He attended Western Michigan University and started his career with Montgomery Wards in Traverse City in the fall of 1952. Duane married his college sweetheart Kathryne Barnhart November 29, 1952 and enjoyed 64 years of marriage until her passing on January 11, 2017. Duane continued his career with Montgomery Wards until he retired as Head of Personnel in the corporate offices in Chicago in 1982. Then with his brother Lee ran the Kalamazoo Toy Train Works at the Bangor train depot. They presented one of their trains to President Ronald Reagan at the White House in 1984. Later Duane personally received a phone call from President Reagan thanking him for the train. Surviving are his 4 children, Debbie (Paul) Woodward of Jasper, GA, Kurt (Debbie) Miller of Algonquin, IL, Marianne (Jim) Sipka of Lawrence, MI, Janice Whitney of Constantine, MI; 11 grandchildren, Morgan, Ed, Michael, Joe, Jeff, Andi, Casey, Katie, Matt, Logan, Charlie; 2 great grandchildren, Gabriel and Charlotte; 3 siblings, Pat (Dave) Bly of Bloomingdale, Bill (Wanda) Miller of Bloomingdale and Lee (Ruth) Miller of Titusville, FL. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years Kathryne, The family will meet friends on Wednesday from 2 - 4 PM and 6 - 8 PM at the BLOOMINGDALE CHAPEL, D. L. Miller Funeral Home, where funeral services will be held on Thursday at 1 PM. Internment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimers Association (www.alz.org) or the Republican National Committee.