Robert B. Miller

Robert B. "Bob" Miller, 77, of Sioux City passed away Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010, at a local hospital following a lengthy illness.

Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Grace United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Dr. Tony Nester officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, with military graveside rites conducted. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a 7 p.m. prayer service, at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, 6200 Morningside Ave. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Bob was born Feb. 4, 1932, in West Bend, Iowa, the son of Bruce H. and Florence (Schneider) Miller. He grew up and attended schools in West Bend and Sioux Center, Iowa. He later graduated from Sutherland (Iowa) High School, where he participated in all four sports and in 21 music groups.

In 1950, he attended Drake University, where he declared trumpet as his major and piano as his minor. After one year, he transferred to Morningside College, where he graduated in 1955 with a bachelor of science degree in business. Bob went on to work for Morningside College starting out as an admissions counselor.

In June 1956, he married Darlene M. Froehlich in Cleghorn, Iowa. Soon after their marriage, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Huntsville, Ala. After his discharge in 1958, they returned to Sioux City, where Bob continued his employment with Morningside as associate director of admissions. In 1959 he was promoted to director of admissions and served in that position until September 1968. At that time he became the new alumni director which he served as until 1974, when he left to go into financial services with John Hancock. There, he enjoyed a successful career and was proud of the many trips the family was able to go on through his hard work and awards he earned.

Some of Bob's awards and honors included being on the All Conference First Team with Morningside College Football, a member of the All Century Football Team, the 1954 Championship Team and the All Honor Team. He was inducted into the Morningside College M-Club Hall of Fame in 1968. He was a member of the Million Dollar Roundtable (National Association of Life Underwriters) from 1978 to 1991. He was past president of the YMCA and SCORE, a past board member of Morningside Alumni Association and a current member of the Siouxland Center for Active Generations.

Because of his lifelong passion for music, he was involved in playing in bands for almost 50 years, even starting his own band before entering college. He traveled with the Cliff Kyes Band from September 1951 until January 1952. Bob later joined the Eddie Skeets Orchestra and stayed with them for 30 years.

Bob loved playing golf and cards, especially bridge. He also loved watching and cheering many sports teams including any Morningside athletic team, Explorers Baseball and the Chicago Cubs.

He is survived by his wife, Darlene; three children, Pam Miller-Smith and her husband, Doug Smith of Dakota Dunes, S.D., Sue and her husband, Scott Morehead of Dakota Dunes, and Scott Miller and his significant other, Vicki Harrington of Ankeny, Iowa; a brother, Chuck Miller and his wife, Marilyn of California; eight grandchildren, Brandon Smith and his fiancee, Tessa West, Dustin Smith and his wife, Katie, Michelle Sandin and her husband, Jeff, Becky Anderson and her husband, Jake, Brandon Morehead and his significant other, Rachel Lenhardt, Andrew Miller, Tyler "T.J." Miller and Katie Miller; and three great-grandchildren, Allie and Leah Sandin and Max Anderson.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Pallbearers will be his grandchildren.