Randy Miller

Nov. 8, 1951- Oct. 17, 2020.

Born November 8, 1951, Randy passed bravely with his family by his side at the University of Iowa Hospitals on October 17, 2020.

With a whiskey in one hand, cigar in the other, Randy pondered life and observed people. Given his insatiable curiosity, he was always ready to "chat people up" as he put it, and hear the stories he thought everyone had to tell. Randy could engage in any subject given his intellect and quick wit.

The second child born to Leonard and Floris (Irwin) Miller, he loved to share stories of his adventures growing up in the small Northwest Iowa town of Sac City. He graduated high school in 1969 having started kindergarten at the age of 4. Starting as a delivery boy for the Des Moines Register at the age of 12, he had numerous jobs before and after high school. He learned the value of hard work from a young age and it sustained him throughout his life.

After getting the jump on an inevitable draft in 1971, Randy served in the U.S. Army for three years. Randy used the GI Bill to attain a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State University in 1980. Starting his first white-collar job at the Oskaloosa Herald as farm editor, Randy eventually became editor. While in Oskaloosa, he met his future wife, Jene Lewiston (McKay). They married in July 1982, and Randy took her children, Troy and Jessica, under his wing as his own.

In 1985 Randy moved his family to Fort Madison, IA as the editor of the Daily Democrat. A year later, one day after moving into their new home, they welcomed a son, Benjamin. In 1993 he started what would become his dream job at The Hawk Eye, in Burlington, IA as a desk editor. He retired as city editor in May 2015. His Managing Editor, Dale Alison, said that Randy was "a born newspaperman."

Randy loved Burlington and was dedicated to improving the city and preserving its history through volunteering. He was a co-founder of the Leopold Heritage Group, the annual Earth Day Cleanup, and the Heritage Trust's Preservation Station. He was Secretary on the Heritage Trust board and a board member of the Friends of the Burlington Public Library.

Randy will be greatly missed by: his wife, Jene; children Troy Lewiston, Jessica Lewiston, Ben Miller (Ashlee); granddaughters Rheya and Olive; brother Rick; sister Renae Jacobsen (Joe); father-in-law Delmar McKay; sisters-in-law Beth Hines (David), Raeanne Monk (Steve), Lori Acker (Erik); many nephews, nieces and friends; and his faithful Miniature Schnauzer, Molly. Randy took great joy in the time spent with extended family and friends during holidays, vacations and weekend trips.

He is preceded in death by his parents and Mother-in-law, Rachel McKay.

His family would like to thank the staff at Great River Medical Center and University of Iowa Hospitals for the kindness, care and professionalism they showed while taking care of Randy in the midst of a pandemic.

Celebration of life plans will be announced at a later date. If you wish to give a memorial donation, please donate to Friends of the Burlington Public Library, The Leopold Heritage Group or The Nature Conservancy.

Randy asks that you "go out and live life fully and do something good for the world."

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.