MILLER, Richard "Dick" Leonard, M.D. 1921-2017

MILLER, SHULL, RATH

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 6/4/2017 at 13:30:17

February 20, 1921 - May 26, 2017

The good doctor, aged 96 years, passed away peacefully at his home in Naples, Florida, on May 26, 2017.

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 5 at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway with burial in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Visitation will be for one hour before services at the funeral home. Longtime friend, James Walker, will deliver the eulogy. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Avow Hospice of Naples Florida, 239-649-3683.

Richard was born in Waterloo, Iowa, on February 20, 1921, the eldest child of Roger Christian Miller and Frieda May (Shull) Miller. His father was the president of the Crystal Ice and Fuel Company of Waterloo. Richard was raised in the Highland neighborhood, attended St. Johns Elementary and graduated from East High School in 1938. He attended the University of Notre Dame from 1938-1941 majoring in Pre-Professional Studies (pre-med) and was active in the theater department.

In 1944 he married Rebecca Rath in Waterloo and soon after started a family while completing medical school at St. Louis University. After obtaining his M.D. in 1945, he interned at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. His time at Cook County left an impression on the young doctor, and helped to form his character in later life.

He served as a Captain in the US Army from 1946-1948, stationed at Madigan General Hospital in Tacoma, WA, and then completed residencies in obstetrics and gynecology at Chicago Lying-In Hospital in 1949 and Akron City Hospital in 1952.

He launched his medical career in Waterloo in 1952 with offices on South Street and built a successful practice delivering over 9,000 children until retiring in 1986. During the course of his professional life, he served in many leadership positions including medical Chief-of-Staff at Allen Memorial Hospital, founder of the Obstetrics Department at St. Francis Hospital, and Chairman of the Black Hawk County Medical Society.

While practicing, he also wrote many well received professional papers, including articles published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. After decades in solo practice, he still managed to receive the highest score on the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology recertification exam.

In 1973, Dick married Barbara Eggena of Rockford, IA and settled in Cedar Falls. Upon retiring from medicine in 1986, Dick and Barbara moved to Naples, Florida where he lived until his passing. Barbara was devoted to Dick throughout their many years together and was by his side offering love and support at his passing. Throughout his life, Dick was active in community life and local politics.

He belonged to the BPOE, chaired the Air Pollution committee in Waterloo in the 1970's and championed the fight to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking during pregnancy. Dick was an avid sportsman and fierce competitor. His love of the sport of golf is renowned among the annals of Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo where he once took the Club Championship. His beloved “Wolves” golf group including Blindman, Boller, Dunkleberg, Hutchison, Mast, Noonan, Ostheimer, Schultz, Shulman, Telfer, Walker and Weidner will attest to his prowess on the tee, fairway and green.

Later on, during his 70's and 80's, Dick “shot-his-age” many times at Eagle Creek, his home course, in Naples. He enjoyed the friendship of many people in his life including Alfred “Dutch” Schultz, Richard and Wallace Sulentic, Gilbert Glasson, Jim Fox and medical colleagues Hanson, Siebert and Napier. Dick was also an avid tennis player, skier, scuba diver, bowler, sailor, outdoorsman and sports car enthusiast. He loved reading and maintained an extensive library at all times which was housed on a sturdy set of bookshelves that he built himself.

He also loved poetry and wrote many poems himself, though he did not often advertise the fact. An amateur flautist, he was a great appreciator of music, and a fan of the jazz pianists Erroll Garner and Count Basie. Dick held the great philosophers and spiritual leaders in high esteem, none more-so than the Mahatma Ghandi. He was a superior provider for his family, and sent five children through college at private universities. He was a teacher to his children and introduced them to to the joys of sport and the appreciation of culture.

Dr. Miller is survived by five children, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Christopher R. and Diane Miller of Tacoma, WA, and their sons Patrick and Paul, Michael R. Miller and Pam Jenkins of Roeland Park, KS and their daughter Lia, Judith A. and Dick Hunsicker of Linden, IN and their daughters Beth, Mandy and Sarah, Peter R. and Lisa Miller of Medford, MA and their children Simona, Ansel and Theo, and Jonathan C. Miller and Sarah Buckingham of Stamford, CT and their daughter Ava. The great-grandchildren: Patrick and Miranda Miller's daughter, Keelyn, and Beth and Todd Parker's daughter, Caroline Parker.

Dick was preceded in death by his sister Celeste “Letty” Miller, a longtime resident of Dixon, NM.

Source: Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Home website