Kevin Miller

Loyal loving son, brother, husband, father of three teen-agers and accomplished structural engineer Kevin Michael Miller passed May 31, 2023, at home surrounded by his family in Morton, IL from cancer.

Born December 6, 1973, in Peoria, IL to Michael "Mike" Maurice and Julie Ann (Bateman) Miller of Elmwood, IL who survive him along with sister Kristin (Todd) Werner of Highland, IL, wife Rachel (Dodge) and children Jay True, Emelia Lauren, Finn Michael and beloved dog Milkshake.

From a young age Kevin was full of surprises and felt the need for speed, riding a dirt bike and soon after a motorcycle, building rockets and self-willing himself to become valedictorian. A family man, steadfast and true, Kevin enjoyed playing guitar and teaching his children to sing, play guitar, bike the neighborhood, hike, rock climb and, yes, build rockets. His family and friends especially loved his quirky sense of humor (he was a bona fide nerd) getting married in Las Vegas by Elvis. We can still hear him playing everything from Johnny Cash to Mountain Goats.

He excelled in academics and in his career. Valedictorian Elmwood IL High School '92; High Honors U of IL Urbana-Champaign with BS Civil Engineering '97, MS Civil Engineering '99. Awards: IL General Assembly Scholarship '92-93; Ekstrand Scholarship '94, '95, '96, '98; William John Mackay Award '97; Anteon Team Award 2004, Anteon New Employee Award '04; Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.

In '97 Kevin started his career in Chicago as a Structural Engineer for Doyen and Assoc. Inc. with an emphasis on betterment for fossil fuel plants. In 2000 he moved to Washington DC as a Structural Project Engineer for Robert Silman Assoc. PLLC where his work included both new and historic building rehab, including Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in NYC, the US Supreme Court, John Hopkins U, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Decatur House in DC and Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater in Mill Run, PA. In '03 he worked as a Staff Engineer for Anteon Corp. in DC where the majority of his work was for the new US Naval Ship Program.

While in DC he met the love of his life and married fellow Illinoisan Rachel and started a family. They returned to Illinois in '05 to raise their children and Kevin started his career at Caterpillar as an Analysis Engineer in the Track Type Tractors Division in East Peoria.  By 2010 Kevin rose to the position of Engineering Project Team Leader in the TTT Large Structures section and in 2017 was promoted to a Senior Engineering Project Team Leader in Structural Validation at Caterpillar's Peoria Proving Grounds.  Kevin was well respected for his technical expertise in large structures at Caterpillar but also an exceptional teammate who routinely organized team outings to enjoy a few laughs with his colleagues.

Services are Friday June 9th in Morton, IL at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1020 S. First Ave., Morton, IL 61550. Visitation 9:30am to 11am and services 11am with luncheon following in the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, a memorial account has been set up at CEFCU for the benefit of the Miller children.  Make checks payable to FBO The Children of Kevin Miller and bring to services, or mail to the family.

"Walk cheerfully and with a sincere and open heart as much as you can, and when you cannot always maintain this holy joy, at least do not lose heart or your trust in God. Pray, Hope and Don't Worry." Padre Pio