SPARTA - Robert E. Miller 91, of Sparta, died Sunday, January 2, 2022 at Mulder Health Care, West Salem. He was born on August 23, 1930 in Osakis, MN to Emil and Elsie Miller.
Bob graduated from Alexandria High School in 1948. He then attended Minnesota School of Business where he majored in Sales and Advertising and minored in Accounting. Bob was raised on a farm in Hudson Township, Douglas County, rural Alexandria MN. The family then moved to the city of Alexandria in 1946.
Bob was drafted into the US Army in 1951. He was stationed at Fort Worden, WA and Fort Lawton, WA. He was honorably discharged in 1953 and returned to Alexandria, MN.
Bob worked at Gambles, Consumers Gas Co, and Montgomery Wards. He then owned and operated Sparta Sportsman Service, bait shop, from 1968 until 1990. He retired from Spartek in 1992 and worked security for Spartek and Northern Engraving.
Bob was a member of the Alexandria Jaycees, Kiwanis in Sparta, served on the board of directors for the Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce, elected Alderman, chairman of the Police & Fire Commission, and served on the finance and sanitation committee.
Bob was elected WI Conservation Congress as a delegate from Monroe County, Chairman of Delegation, Trout Study Committee, Environmental Committee, Warm Water Fish Committee, and External Committee. He started teaching Hunter Safety in 1974 and taught it for over 20 years. He served on the board of directors for Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and was elected Second Vice President, First Vice President, and President. He was elected alternate delegate to the National Wildlife Federation, served as chairman of Land Use Committee, Water Resource Committee, Cranberry Bog Committee, and Inland Fisheries Committee. He served on the Executive Board from 1981 until present, was elected Honorary Vice President in 1987 and was a lifetime appointment and member in 2003. In 2006, he received the Outstanding Presidents Award from WWF.
Bob married Kathryn F. Kelsey on April 15, 1954. She passed away on December 13, 1980. They had a son, Robert Steven who preceded him in death on October 13, 1983.
Bob married Eileen Marie Meyer on June 7, 1986. They had two daughters, Renee (Mitchell) Ziegler and Stacey (Craig) Charlton; a son, Dan (Laura) Engelke; and three grandchildren, Liam and Madeline Ziegler and Jude Engelke.
A celebration of life for Bob will be held on July 22, 2022 at Union Lake in Alexandria, MN. Online condolences may be offered at www.schanhoferfh.com
Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, Sparta, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation
