Remembering Galena’s Joe Miller

By Hillary Dickerson
Courtesy of Galena Gazette

GALENA–Born in February 1929 in Galena, the son of Joseph H. and Lidwina T. (Fleege), Miller spent many years of his life at the family’s home just off Gear Street on South High Street.

Miller graduated from St. Michael’s Catholic Grade School in 1943 and then attended Galena High School. He graduated in 1947.

It was during high school that Huck Muehleip knew Miller, who was a year ahead of Muehleip in school.

Muehleip fondly remembers Miller driving his friends around in a Model T during those teenage years.

“We had a lot of fun with that in high school,” said Muehleip.

Besides the time they spent on the road in the Model T, there were hours spent at the Millers’ home playing pool.

The Millers had a nice shed area near their house that was fixed up with a great full size historic pool table in it.

Ron Smith, although younger than Miller, grew up just a couple houses up from Miller and his parents on Gear Street. It was around the Millers’ pool table that Smith and his siblings and friends–known as the Gear Street Rangers–spent a lot of time.

After high school Miller served in the U.S. Army at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., as a mess sergeant and cook during the Korean War from 1951 until his honorable discharge in 1953.

Upon his return to Galena, Miller worked at Kraft Foods for 44 years.

Courtesy of Galena Foundation

It was at Kraft that Smith again knew Miller. Smith worked at Kraft from 1961 to 1965, during the same years Miller was there in the cheese room, wrapping shipments of the Swiss cheese that was made there.

“He was an excellent worker at Kraft,” recalled Smith, noting Miller always wanted to make sure everything was done right.

Smith thought of Miller as leading a fairly reserved, conservative life.

Although Miller always had a nice car, he lived with his parents for years–55 years total–before moving into his own home, after their death, further up on Gear Street in 1984. Just the same, Smith said, no one ever had the idea that Miller was saving money for a substantial donation at the end of his life.

For 15 years, while working day shift at Kraft, Miller drove to Dubuque to work the night shift at the Dubuque Packing Company.

Smith said Miller most likely didn’t need to continue working but he did because he could.

“That’s the kind of guy he was,” said Smith.

Miller had a special relationship with the river that carried him throughout life. Miller loved to hunt, fish and also water ski. He was a member of the Galena Hydros Ski Club.

Muehleip and Miller were both members of the Galena Hydros water ski team. They spent a lot of time together on the river even though Miller typically kept to himself and was quite reserved, Muehleip recalled.

In addition to the Hydros, Miller was a 50-plus year member of the American Legion, Galena Elks Lodge and St. Michael’s Catholic Church.

Miller would often share with people his Galena memories.

He loved to walk around town and see how things had changed over the years.

Dubuque attorney Jeff Trannel first met Miller when working years ago at the Dubuque Packing Company.

Years later, it was Trannel who worked with Miller before his death to set up the trust.

After Miller died, Trannel helped establish the trust and get it up and running.

“He was one heck of a hard worker,” said Trannel, emphasizing Miller was interested in doing good for the community he loved.