Norman J. Miller

Norman J. Miller, 91, of Davenport, died early Saturday, December 20, 2025 at Ridgecrest Village. He had been surrounded by family, close friends, Hospice nurses, and the compassionate caregivers of Crest Health Center.

Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial for Norm will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 29, 2025 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, Davenport. Private burial will take place in the Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, with military honors. Visitation will be held from 3 until 5 p.m. Sunday at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, with a brief prayer service offered at 5 p.m. There will be additional visitation held on Monday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass at Our Lady of Victory. Memorials may be made to Our Lady of Victory Parish.

Norman John Miller, Jr. was born on December 13, 1934 in Quincy, Illinois, oldest son of Rose M. (Dulansky) and Norman J. Miller, Sr. He graduated from St. Ambrose Academy in 1953, and attended St. Ambrose College before enlisting in the Army. After basic training, he attended Army Language School in Monterey, California, becoming proficient in the Vietnamese language. He was subsequently stationed at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines until his discharge in November, 1957.

From 1957 until 1960, Norm worked at Miller & Heaton, his father’s paving company. From 1960 until 1963, he and his brother, Nick, operated Norman’s Standard Station on West Locust Street. In 1963, they rejoined their father and brother, Richard, at Miller & Heaton, incorporating in 1968 as N. J. Miller, Inc. They were joined subsequently by brother Steve, sister Mary Ann, and Mary Ann’s husband, Lee DeJulius. Norm retired in December, 1996.

Norm was united in marriage to Mary C. Rogge on April 22, 1961, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Davenport. They have shared over 64 years of marriage and memories.

Norm was an easygoing guy who enjoyed the simple things in life. He liked reading the newspaper, military and western novels, and he never passed up a chance to go fishing. He worked in his garden, growing tomatoes of which he was very proud. Norm loved watching Iowa Hawkeye football and basketball, and cheered on the Green Bay Packers for over 60 years. He liked to play solitaire and FreeCell, euchre and canasta, usually with a cold Hamm’s beer (or two) close by. Upon retirement, Norm took up golf, working hard to improve his game, an almost daily struggle. Along the way, he cultivated many close friendships, for which he was enormously grateful.

Norm and Mary were charter members of Our Lady of Victory, where Norm ushered at 7 a.m. Mass with his brother, Nick, for nearly 60 years. He had been president of the OLV Men’s Council, and also a member of the Parish Council. In 1968 he served on the Planning Committee for construction of Our Lady of Victory church.

Those left to honor his memory are his wife, Mary, Davenport; children, Paul (Kathy Benninger) Miller, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Julie (Tim) Pfohl, London, Ontario, Canada; granddaughter Amanda (Josh) Meute, Pineville, North Carolina; great-granddaughters Mallory and Jocelyn of Pineville; siblings Stephen Miller, Yuma, Arizona, and Mary Ann (Lee) DeJulius, Davenport; sisters-in-law Joan Miller and Cathy Miller, both of Davenport, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Norm was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Richard Miller and Nick Miller, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Phillip and Frances Rogge, and a sister-in-law, Sue Miller. May they rest in peace.