Harvey Q. Miller
Saturday, January 17, 1931
Date of Death:
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
Age:
90 years old
Saturday, January 17, 1931
Date of Death:
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
Age:
90 years old
Saturday, January 17, 1931
Date of Death:
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
Age:
90 years old
Harvey Q. Miller
Harvey Q Miller passed away peacefully at his home early morning on September 1, 2021.
Harvey was born on January 17, 1931 in Rochester to George and Jennie (Kvamme) Miller. He
enlisted in the Army/Air Force in August 1947 and served as an electrician in Okinawa Japan. He received an Honorable Discharge in July 1948. He received his GED from Rochester High School in 1949.
Harvey married Marita Rose Steck on June 3, 1949 on a little boat on the Mississippi River near Marquette, IA, after fibbing about their ages and rowing out to find the judge who was fishing on the river. The two loved traveling throughout the US every year in their motorhome. After Marita passed in 2002, Harv would take guided bus tours around the country, sometimes accompanied by his granddaughter, Jenny or his daughter, Lisa and Vince.
For 27 years Harvey worked at the Rochester Fire Dept and was the fire investigation photographer for which he attended annual training in Chicago. He held 2 invention patents that had to do with firefighting, and had many other things that he invented. Harvey truly had the most brilliant mind that was far ahead of his time! As a teen he invented what was probably the first front wheel drive car that bent in the middle. He got disqualified from car races for winning too much.
Over 15 years Harv built by hand the extraordinary “Dreams End Iron House” high on a hill overlooking Lake Zumbro. Earlier he had bought a farm around this spot and developed it in to “Harbo Hills”. The lake property was fun to many.
Besides loving “tinkerering”, inventing, travel, and beer, he was such a devoted husband, and he also loved to fish. Top of the list has got to be his generosity, however. In the last 5 years, he made donations of $50,000 each to the Salvation Army, Ronald McDonald House, Red Cross (because of Hurricane Harvey), and to the Post Bulletin which set up a wonderful annual Invention Fair in his name to inspire area children to create something new!
Harvey is survived by his granddaughter, Jennifer (Don) Brearley and their children, Grace Rose, Willian Harvey, Alyssa Joan (who were the apple of his eye!); son-in-law, Vincent Guy; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a young son, Bruce A Miller; daughter, Lisa (Miller ) Guy; son, Michael Miller; wife, Marita; and brother, George Miller.
Yes, Harvey was a dear character, a truly great man, and he will be so missed by many.
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 9, 2021 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with Rev. Cathy Dudley officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens. Relatives and friends are invited to a luncheon at the River Park Chapel immediately following the burial.
In lieu of flowers please consider donations to Alzheimer’s Research.
Condolences
The family of Harvey Q. Miller has received the following condolences.
Dear Jen and family, My condolences on Harvey's passing. I have many fond memories of my Parents taking our bus to the lake and having it on the cove all summer, then in the fall he and John hooking the Toyota's up to pull it out the last 15 feet or so to the road, as it gut stuck in the sand. We spent many a weekend swimming & boating. We got ducklings and released them there one summer once they got big. I remember Harv talking about getting out of bed to go to the bathroom one night in Dreams End, the bed spun around, when he got back and sat down he sat on Marita's head! He giggled and said she was not amused. The man was a genius. It was a treat in college to go to the lake and be invited for a beer with my parents in the living room of that house looking over the lake at sunset. We snowmobiled in the winter and hiked the whole property in the summer, took the buss with Harv & Marita, the Stecks & Bob Wood and others to the Apple River as well. Great times and memories. Hugs, love and prayers to you and your family.
Mark Leqve
Harv (dear brother in law)
I will miss our phone conversations ... There were. never enough. The laughter enjoyed will never be duplicated.
It has been a wonderful seventy four years with many great memories...
Enjoy the next leg of the journey...
William
Hugs and Prayers to all of us that considered Uncle Harvey to be a true Hero in our lives. I know I'm not the only one who knows that sentiment! Uncle Harvey touched so many lives and souls and I pray I never forget his wonderful chuckle and his enduring love of life.
Uncle Harvey, the world will be a sadder and less creative place without You! Your Joy and love of making things better, honestly better, has made so many aspects in all of our lives better! You always had a way with quietness too, that brought peace and the ability to get it done! I pray you found what you were looking for! You have to so many of us! The hundreds of thoughts you helped me through are not enough, and I never was graced with how you just made good choices. We Thank you for all You Are, Uncle Harvey! Ben Steck.
Uncle Harvey - you were the best uncle a kid could ever have had! I am a daughter of your favorite (and only) brother, George Jr. You two were such a hoot together! You were "HQ" and he was Jorge, Major Hoople or Sonny Boy. Your sense of adventure and ability to create so many new things always amazed me Your house on the lake was a creative masterpiece. I got a kick out of how you put the place together. I remember a phone booth and a rotating circular drive. "Hoo boy" ? I love you, dear uncle...until we meet again! Love, your niece, Cindy
I consider myself one of the luckiest girls on the planet to have been given the opportunity to call you "Grandpa." Despite all the hardships life brought, you never let it dull your shine; smiling and laughing, truly enjoying life, until the very end. Telling everyone "what's life if you can't laugh, have fun and enjoy it?" I don't see the good in "goodbye", so I'll say, until we meet again, I'll love you always.
-your favorite granddaughter ("just because I'm the only, it doesn't mean I can't be the favorite"), Don, little Harv, Grace and Alyssa.