Dennis Laverne Miller

Dennis Laverne Miller, of Paradise, MI, passed away on December 12, 2024 at the age of 80.

Dennis was born on June 24, 1944, in Mt Clemens, MI, the eldest of six brothers. Dennis had a great interest in cars and, with the help of his dad, rebuilt his first car engine at the age of 16: the beginning of a long career in the automotive industry.

Dennis met the love of his life, Barbara, when he was 16. They spent five years playing a lot of Scrabble while getting to know one another before getting married in 1965. Dennis, Barb, and their first baby embarked on a new adventure when Dennis was posted to Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska during his time with the U.S. Army. The family lived there for a year and a half before moving back to Michigan once Dennis’s service ended.

Dennis and Barb eventually settled in Davisburg, MI in 1978, after building a family home on 11 acres. Over the years, Dennis and Barb would welcome a total of six children. Dennis loved having a big family, and his children (and later, his grandchildren) were his pride and joy. He especially enjoyed bowling with his family in leagues and in tournaments. Always a tinkerer, Dennis could fix anything with an engine. He helped others with their vehicles whenever the need arose, and loved to fix up old dirt bikes, four wheelers, and snowmobiles for his kids and grandkids to use.

Dennis was deeply devoted to his family and worked hard to provide for them. He worked for General Motors for 30 years, as a metal model maker at the Warren Technical Center. After Dennis retired in 2006, he and Barb moved permanently to Paradise, MI in a house they built on the shores of Lake Superior.

Although Dennis and Barb loved having visitors, often hosting a house full of friends and family for Paradise's annual Wild Blueberry Festival, they also appreciated the natural beauty and slow pace of life in the Upper Peninsula. Not content to slow down too much, however, Dennis spent five of his retirement years working at Whitefish Point, where he maintained the lighthouse, facilities, and grounds.

Dennis was a gentle, jovial man, who had a knack for sharing his wisdom and wit at exactly the right time. His stoic, steady presence at the helm of his family will be profoundly missed.

Dennis is survived by his wife of 59 years, Barbara, and their six children: daughter Ann Hull (Rich) and sons Dennis Miller (Jen), James Miller (Kelly), Joseph Miller (Alida), Michael Miller (Tessa), and Thomas Miller (Flor Medina), as well as 12 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and his brothers Gary Miller (Sandy), Gregory Miller (Theresa), and Brian Miller (Cindy). He was preceded in death by his parents, Laverne and Margaret “Peggy” Miller, and brothers Mark Miller (Phyllis) and Jeffrey Miller (Nancy).

The family will receive visitors at COATS FUNERAL HOME-CLARKSTON, 8909 Dixie Hwy, MI on Friday, January 3rd from 11:30 AM - 1:30PM. A committal service with military honors will follow at 2:30 pm at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, MI. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dennis Laverne Miller, please visit our floral store.