Nicholas Miller

Nicholas F. “Nick” Miller slipped away at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House with his wife by his side Saturday night on July 12, 2025.

Nick was born at Mercy Hospital in Davenport on October 15, 1941, to Norman J. and Rose M. (Dulansky) Miller.

Nick met his future wife, Cathy O’Brien, in 2nd grade at Holy Family grade school where she picked him out and held him to it! He didn’t have a chance. She was smitten. They went all through grade school and high school together. Nick two years at St. Ambrose Academy and Cathy two years at ICA. They were in the second graduating class (1960) of the newly built Assumption High School.

Nick and Cathy were married April 28, 1962. Two years later on their anniversary they welcomed their first child, Nick Jr, then Dave, Ann, Dan, and Joe, all within 7 years. It was an active bunch and kept them busy. Family was #1 in their lives.

Nick was a hard worker from an early age, bending rebar at age 14 for his father’s paving company. He worked with his brother Norm at Norman’s Standard Station on W. Locust St. after high school before starting at Miller & Heaton Paving in 1964. In 1968 Nick, his brothers Norman and Richard incorporated, and the business became N.J. Miller Inc. Joined subsequently by Steve Miller and Mary Ann and Lee DeJulius.

Nick’s work was his pride and joy and instilled a good work ethic in all of his kids. He was respected as a boss and sometimes feared because of his expectations of workmanship. He became lifelong friends with some of those he worked with. He was “old school”, expecting from others what he did himself. Nick retired in 2003 at age 62 and enjoyed fishing, yardwork, walks, and breakfasts with Cathy and traveling to Florida and Las Vegas.

Nick’s last decade was fraught with some illnesses that slowed him down and he and Cathy became contented (mostly) homebodies especially the last 6 ½ years.

Nick and Cathy were charter members of Our Lady of Victory Church, and he was an usher at 7 am Sunday Mass with brother Norm for close to 60 years.

Survivors include wife Cathy; sons and daughter Nick (Lori) Miller, David (Marisa) Miller, Ann (Paul Ochs) Lotz, Daniel Miller, Joseph (Stephanie) Miller; 16 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren with another expected in January; brothers and sister Norman J. (Mary) Miller Jr, Stephen Miller, Mary Ann (Lee) DeJulius; sister-in-law Joan Miller; brother-in-law Joseph F. O’Brien Jr; and many loving nieces, nephews, friends and garden partners.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Richard L. Miller, sisters-in-law Sue Miller and Rita O’Brien, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Kerry and Barbara O’Brien, mother-in-law Agnes E. O’Brien and father-in-law Joseph F. O’Brien, Sr., and niece Trisha Reid.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, July 18, 2025, at Our Lady of Victory, Davenport. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary. Visitation will be from 4-6 pm Thursday at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, and Friday from 9:30 am until time of services at the church. Memorials may be made to Clarissa C. Cook, Our Lady of Victory Foundation or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.