John R. Miller

John R. Miller, 60, a lifelong resident of Dover died unexpectedly Monday, May 21, 2012.

John founded J.R. Miller & Company , an excavating firm at Dover in 1984. He had previously been employed for Ben Cookson, Inc. having worked on various highway and dam projects for the Army Corp. of Engineers. John was passionate about his work and operated his company with the highest ethical standard and performed every job with perfection. He strongly believed in the American Dream. He proudly followed in his father and grandfather's footsteps in the construction and engineering field and took his Miller name with pride.

Born September 8, 1951 in Dover, he was the son of John W. "Jack" and Ruth (Haueter) Miller of Dover.

He attended the Trinity Gospel Temple in Canton. He was an active member of the Dover Exchange Club where he served as a Past President and Board Member and was a longtime member of the Canal Dover Days Committee. He was also a member of the former Dover Elks and member of the local Laborer's Union. He was a 1970 graduate of Dover High School where he played baseball for the Tornadoes and enjoyed the yearly reunions with his classmates. He was also a 1975 graduate of Kent State University with a degree in Civil Engineering. In addition to his community activities, John was also a pilot and member of the A.P.A. and a certified scuba diver with advanced training and enjoyed diving with his great friend, Steve DeBois. He enjoyed an occasional round of golf and loved the fishing trips with the "Bass Buzzards" as well as vacationing in Sarasota, Florida. In his younger years, he played softball in the Dover Recreational League and was an AVID Dover Football fan as well the Ohio State Buckeyes and all Cleveland sports . He was deeply entrenched in American History and could often be found in front of the television's History Channel. He will be most remembered as a loving and devout husband, father, and grandfather.
John will be sadly missed by his wife Nancy Sundheimer Miller with whom he would have celebrated 37 years on August 23; two sons, John "Mike" (Jen) Miller and Matt (Allison) Miller both of Dover and was "Poppy" to his grandchildren Alivia, Lyela, and Londyn.

A celebration of John's life will be held Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. in the Trinity Gospel Temple at 1612 Tuscarawas West, Canton with Brother Dave Lombardi officiating. Friends may call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory at Dover on Friday from 3-7pm and Saturday at the church one hour prior to services. Those unable to attend or who may wish to express a fond memory of John may sign the online guestbook by visiting the "obituaries and flowers" link on the funeral home website at www.tolandherzig.com
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Londyn Miller Heart Fund, c/o Dover-Phila Federal Credit Union, 119 Fillmore Ave., Dover, Ohio 44622 to be used for the ongoing medical expenses of John's granddaughter.
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