Roger Dale Miller
July 22, 1954 - January 27, 2008
Obituary
Roger Dale Miller
July 22, 1954 – January 27, 2008
Roger unexpectedly died Sunday at age 53. He was visiting at his brother’s home in Normandy Park. Roger was born in Seattle and was the first of four boys. He was a very proud, dedicated and loving father to his daughter Kati. Roger is survived by his Father, Owen Miller, Mother Aldeene JoAnne Weiler, husband Joe Weiler, Brothers, Jim Miller, Jerry Weiler and Rick Kim Weiler, nephews Kris, Lenny and Dennon, nieces Kennis and Kelby. Step sisters Lynn Moore and Stephanie Middleton.
Roger was raised in the Burien/White Center area and a graduate of Evergreen High School, Class of 1973. He served in the United States Marine Corp from 73 to 76. After his 3 year tour he worked in manufacturing and spent the next 15 years managing shipping and receiving at the Burien Sears store.
Roger’s greatest love was daughter Kati. He was strict, kept a close eye but cherished every moment raising her. His second love was that of cars and racing. He spent many hours with friends at races, shows and car clubs. All friends and relatives found him kind hearted, loyal and dependable. He was the first to lend a helping hand and went to all extents when needed.
It is hard to say good bye to a man so full of life and laughter. His family is with great loss and will miss and love him forever.
Visitation 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Thursday, January 31, 2008 and Funeral service Friday, February 1, 2008 at 2:00 PM followed by a reception, both at Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial, 16445 International Blvd, SeaTac. Please sign the online memorial guestbook at www.bonneywatson.com.
Roger had a sincere love for cars and racing. This love was Second, only, to that of the love of his daughter Katie. Roger would do everything he could to help anyone whether he knew them or just met them. His help may not have always been productive but it was dependably thorough. Just one of many incidents comes to mind.
Roger had a dodge charger, years ago around 1978 or 1979. He called and told me it quit on him while sitting at a stop light. We towed it to where I was working and checked it out. The engine had so many broken and bent parts it had to be replaced completly. I never found out how that happened, just sitting at a stoplight. I found another engine and started rebuilding it.
I gave roger four or five parts to start cleaning. He sat on a five gallon drum and cleaned those parts for two solid days, with a little screw driver, a wire brush, a tooth brush and sandpaper. The engine was done on the second day, and required those parts to install it. And he continued to clean through the third day. He said after they get painted he wanted them to look like new, and they looked better than new. Luckily there was still enough left to paint.
That is the way Roger did things in his life. His daughter Kati has felt that first hand in his raising her. He was very strict but he also did things for her, to help her, which I believe not one percent of other fathers would even consider doing for their daughters.
I will miss you my brother.
Love Jim
TO MY BROTHER ROGER,
ON SUNDAY MORNING WHILE YOU WERE VISITING AT JERRY’S, I WAS IN BUCKLEY WITH KELBY AT HER SOCCER GAME. JIM CALLED AND SAID THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND YOU MIGHT BE HURT. HE THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE SLIPPED ON THE ICE AND HIT YOUR HEAD OR SOMETHING AND THAT YOU WEREN’T RESPONDING TO THE MEDICS. THE NEXT CALL WAS THE SHOCKING NEWS THAT THE MEDICS HAD STOPPED WORKING ON YOU AND YOU WERE GONE. I LEFT KELBY AT THE GAME AND STARTED HOME. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS WITH YOU AT THE HOUSE. WHAT THEY MUST BE GOING THROUGH AND HOW I WISHED I COULD BE THERE IMMEDIATELLY. FOR THE NEXT 30 MINUTES I COULD ONLY THINK OF YOU.
I THOUGHT OF RACING GO KARTS, RIDING DIRT BIKES AT THE SCHOOL AND DRIVING AROUND IN THE BACK YARD AT NIGHT IN THE 49 CHRYSLER. JUST THE TWO OF US IN THAT TIGHT CIRCLE LAUGHING AND JOKING WITH THE RADIO PLAYING. MOM AND DAD MUST HAVE THOUGHT WE WERE NUTS. YOU WERE ALWAYS FUN TO BE WITH. I ALSO REMEMBERED HOW YOU PLAYED HARD AND LIVED FEARLESS. WITH YOU AS MY PROTECTOR, I WAS NEVER AFRAID OF ANYBODY. WE CALLED YOU “WWF†BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE THE HULKSTER. I REMEMBER BEING AT THE POOL WITH JERRY, DARREN AND CHRIS WEILER WHEN 3 OLDER GUYS TOOK OUR LOCKER KEYS AND WOULDN’T GIVE EM BACK. I RAN HOME TO GET YOU AND WITHOUT HESITATION YOU CAME AND BEAT ON ALL THREE OF EM. THEN THERE WAS THE TIME I WOKE YOU UP TO FIGHT WITH GARY TO SEE WHO WAS THE TOUGHEST ON THE BLOCK. AGAIN YOU DIDN’T HESITATE. YOU JUST GOT OUT OF BED AND RIGHT TO BUSINESS.
NOT ONLY WERE YOU FUN TO BE WITH AND A PROTECTOR BUT KIND OF A TEACHER TOO. YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE A SEX MACHINE. THAT MADE US LAUGH HARD BUT I WATCHED YOU CLOSELY AS WE GREW. YOU MAY NOT OF KNOWN, BUT I FOUND YOU TO BE RESPECTFUL AND CARING. A HUMBLE CHARISMA AND GENTLE CONFIDENCE THAT ALLOWED THE TRUST OF MANY LADY FRIENDS.
THIS TRAIT FOLLOWED YOU INTO PARENTING YOUR LITTLE GIRL. EVEN THOUGH YOUR STRICT AND CLOSE EYE SEEMED LIKE PESTERING AT TIMES, I KNEW THE LOVE, PRIDE AND RESPONSIBILITY THAT MADE YOU THE DAD YOU WERE, WAS THE DAD I WANTED TO BE.
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL YOU WENT OFF TO JOIN THE MARINE CORP. AS ONE OF THE FEW, THE PROUD, I WAS WITH TOTAL ADMIRATION. YOU WERE BIG, STRONG AND MY BROTHER.
WHEN I ARRIVED AT YOUR LOCATION YOU WERE STILL IN THE DRIVEWAY. I SLOWLY WENT TO YOU. I NELT TO YOUR SIDE AND REMOVED THE BLANKET. I HELD YOUR HEAD WITH BOTH OF MY HANDS. I GENTLY LAYED MY FACE TO YOURS AND WHISPERED HOW PROUD OF YOU I WAS. AS A LOYAL AND LOVING FATHER AND SON. YOU WERE MY BROTHER.
IN SHOCK OVER YOUR UNTIMELY DEATH I HAVE COME TO BELIEVE THE FOLLOWING. YOUR CARING, CONSISTANT LEADERSHIP HAS LAYED THE FOUNDATION FOR YOUR KATI TO BE THE STRONG WOMAN SHE IS. SHE WILL FINISH SCHOOL AND LIVE ON TO DO MANY GREAT THINGS. YOU PREPARED HER WELL.
ON YOUR LAST DAY WITH US ROGER, YOU SHARED BREAKFAST WITH MOM AND PASSED ON IN THE ARMS OF YOUR BROTHER. YOUR FAMILY WAS PRESENT AND HAS GATHERED IN A WAY THAT WOULD MAKE YOU PROUD. I WILL LOVE YOU ALWAYS AND SPEAK OF YOU OFTEN. PEACE BE WITH YOU. YOU ARE MY BROTHER.
I LOVE YOU,
RICK
Roger, being my first born you had 15 months of all my love before having to share. You were wonderful
6 # Beautiful little wrinkled ,red faced baby boy.
You ended up with 3 more brothers.
I had to learn to do all the boy things with my sons. We rode motorcycles, Raced go carts and camped out. We also did some fishing, You even went hunting with Dad joe
You graduated from Evergreen High School and made me so proud, Then went into the Marines and that was a sad time. I missed you so much, but you always took the time to write.
You had a few bad years, but then the love of your life came to be Your Daughter Kati
She brought much joy to our lives and continues to do so.
Roger i am so happy i had you so close to me the last 2 years. You called me every morning and came to see me at least 3 times a week.
I dont ever have to say i wish i had spent more time with you, cause we were best friends and buddies.
For the last 15 months we went to Reno every month and we enjoyed each other so much. You Didnt gamble ,but you loved the buffets and shows. We did a lot of that too.
I am now and will continue to miss and love you so very much.
If i make it back to Reno I know you will be by my side all the way.
You can now sleep in peace with out pain a well deserved sleep.
I LOVE YOU MY SON AND WILL NEVER FORGET YOU.
YOUR MOTHER
I just heard about Roger’s passing today, at a get together for old Sears Outlet employees. I was so sad, I expected to see him there as he was a few years ago when we all got together last. He was a wonderful and caring man, and he will be missed.I wish I could of paid my last respects,but he will always be in my heart. He was a great and kind hearted man! My sympathy to his family and may he rest in peace.
Big Daddy
We laughed, We bitched, We spent a lot of time together the last few years- We miss you dearly… LARRY, KARIN & MELANIE
WILL MISS HIM.HE WAS A GOOD MAN.I WISH THE BEST FOR HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
Roger, you were a good and honest man, very sorry to see you go. Joe Reddekopp
So very young. RIP Roger.
I didn’t know roger very good but he was a very close and dear friend of my cousin dave harper what i did know of roger he was a very kind man and a good man he talked of his daughter and his friends and was never angery about anything that i know of we are going to miss you ROGER
So sorry for your loss and my loss of a friend.
George
This SUCK’s………..
My hart is with him and his.
We are very sorry for the loss of a wonderful man.
I worked with Roger at Aussie Mach. he will be greatly missed and never replaced. love ya bro.
Our deepest sypathy and sincere prayers for all Roger’s family. Even though he will be greatly missed there is comfort in knowing that God is taking care of him now.
Joanne and family it is with sadness i write this but ,It was such a pleasure even knowing Roger he was a true gentleman with the nicest manners and so respectful a true gentleman in every way,
we had the pleasure of sharing reno trips and along with the buffet which he loved he loved the show let the good times roll i will never forget them picking him to do cc rider he looked so great in his leather jacket..we went to the same show with joanne and him several times. he was fun and loved his daughter, he was so kind to his mother I will never forget him .my life is richer just from knowing him.
With deepest sympathy,
Janet and Jerry Weber
hi..first off i would like to say how sorry i feel for the loss of such a great guy! I will miss not seeing Roger now and again at Jerry’s, every now and then we would run into one another at Jerry’s…you know i love ya Jerr!
I like to think that when someone has left us that maybe there is a reason…this is a poem i have been saving for some years and it seems to fit at this time, do you see Roger in this poem, i think you will?…it has many things that pertain to our lives and how we respond to people, loved ones, and those who we know in this short brief time on this earth.
May God be with all of you in your time of sorrow!
Gary
Subject: FW: “Maybe”
Maybe God wanted us to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so
> > > that when we finally meet the right person, we
> > will know how to be grateful
> > > for that gift.
> > >
> > > Maybe when the door of happiness closes, another
> > opens, but often times we
> > > look so long at the closed door that we don’t see
> > the one which has been
> > > opened for us.
> > >
> > > Maybe the best kind of friend is the kind you can
> > sit on a porch and swing
> > > with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling
> > like it was the best
> > > conversation you’ve ever had.
> > >
> > > Maybe it is true that we don’t know what we have
> > got until we lose it, but
> > > it is also true that we don’t know what we have
> > been missing until it
> > > arrives.
> > >
> > > Giving someone all your love is never an assurance
> > that they will love you
> > > back. Don’t expect love in return; just wait for
> > it to grow in their heart;
> > > but if it does not, be content it grew in yours.
> > >
> > > It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone,
> > an hour to like someone,
> > > and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime
> > to forget someone.
> > >
> > > Don’t go for looks; they can deceive.
> > > Don’t go for wealth; even that fades away.
> > > Go for someone who makes you smile because it
> > takes only a smile to make a
> > > dark day seem bright.
> > > Find the one that makes your heart smile.
> > >
> > > There are moments in life when you miss someone so
> > much that you just want
> > > to pick them from your dreams and hug them for
> > real.
> > >
> > > Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to
> > go; be what you want to
> > > be, because you have only one life and one chance
> > to do all the things you
> > > want to do.
> > >
> > > May you have enough happiness to make you sweet,
> > enough trials to make you
> > > strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough
> > hope to make you happy.
> > >
> > > Always put yourself in others’ shoes. If you feel
> > that it hurts you, it
> > > probably hurts the other person, too.
> > >
> > > The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the
> > best of everything; they
> > > just make the most of everything that comes along
> > their way.
> > >
> > > Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt,
> > those who have searched,
> > > and those who have tried, for only they can
> > appreciate the importance of
> > > people who have touched their lives.
> > >
> > > Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss and
> > ends with a tear. The
> > > brightest future will always be based on a
> > forgotten past, you can’t go on
> > > well in life until you let go of your past
> > failures and heartaches.
> > >
> > > When you were born, you were crying and everyone
> > around you was smiling.
> > > Live your life so that when you die, you are the
> > one who is smiling and
> > > everyone around you is crying.
> > >
> > > You could send this message to those people who
> > mean something to you, to
> > > those who have touched your life in one way or
> > another, to those who make
> > > you smile when you really need it, to those that
> > make you see the brighter
> > > side of things when you are really down, to those
> > who you want to let them
> > > know that you appreciate their friendship.
> > >
> > > And if you don’t, don’t worry, nothing bad will
> > happen to you. You will
> > > just miss out on the opportunity to brighten
> > someone’s day with this
> > > message.
> > >
> > >
> >
>
We are deeply sorry for your loss. Auntie, you spoke fondly of your “first class” gambling trips with Roger, it made us smile and jealous : You will miss him by your side, but he will always be with you in your heart.
We love you,
Cheri & Rod Jacobson
It is hard to believe that I won’t hear Roger’s voice on the phone, or see him again. I find it very difficult to express how much I loved him as a friend. He was one of the Best.
I still think he will be calling me, to remind me, to take my medicine, as he always did, since my wife died over a year ago. Roger was always there for me. He was such a giving man. Years ago, when I was building a garage, and ran out of money, Roger gave me the money to finish, and said if I ever told anyone, he would never speak to me again.
My heart and deepest sympathy go out to his daughter Kati, and his family.I have to believe that he is truly happy and no longer in pain. Rest in peace Dear Friend.
Love,
David
In the mist of such a great loss I can be thankful for all the wonderful times I was allowed to be in the privilaged presence of Roger. I thought of him as a brother and one of the best friends a person could know. All of the thoughts I have are of great times. His love for my animals and of my friends he knew was the most genuion that they could be. You will always be with me in everything I do. Enjoy your well deserved peace. Till we meet again and can do things together. Love, Arlyn
My deepest sympathy to all the family. He was a loving Father,Son and Brother.Rodger took care of his Mother so well when they traveled to Reno.I heard about how he loved the buffet.I will remember him as being quiet and gentle.
I am in shook and at a loss for words. I am so sorry for all of your loss! I really liked Roger and expected to run into Joanne and Roger at my next Reno trip. I just can’t believe he is gone, my deepest condolences.
Micha Bennett