Michael Carl Miller, known to everyone as Mike, passed away suddenly on April 26, 2026, in The Villages, Fla., at the age of 72.
Born on January 28, 1954, in Lincoln, Neb., Mike grew up in Beatrice and later graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1980. His career path reflected his immense curiosity about the world. He started in journalism, which fed his lifelong desire to learn and understand people, before moving into finance, working as a pilot, and later managing a retail fireworks business. But no title meant more to him than “Dad.”
Mike and his wife, Jan, shared the kind of marriage that people truly admire. They married in December 1974 after knowing each other for just a few months, and they spent the next 51 years completely devoted to one another. They loved golfing together, cheering on Husker sports, and splitting their retirement between Florida and Colorado to stay close to their children and grandchildren. A favorite recent memory was celebrating their anniversary in New York City at Yankee Stadium Pinstripe Bowl as guests of their children.
Mike kept a tight circle, and if you were in it, you were family. He was a world-class listener who showed his love through the quiet, consistent actions of everyday life, always making sure Jan and his kids were put first.
He is survived by his wife, Jan; his daughter, Hillary and her husband, Taylor; his son, Luke; his granddaughters, Maren and Leoni; his mother-in-law, Gayle Eskra; and his sisters, Kathy and Jeanne. He was preceded in death by his parents, August and Mary Lou; his brother, Jim; and his father-in-law, Roger Eskra.
Celebration of life services will be held in Nebraska (July) and in Florida (November); details will follow. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that donations be made in Mike’s honor to one of the organizations close to his family’s heart: Habitat for Humanity, Flatbush Cats, or Children’s Miracle Network.