George H. Miller, 86, died at the home of his daughter in Aurora.George H. Miller, 86, died at the home of his daughter in Aurora.
His wife Shirley preceded him in death in 1994.
He also was preceded in death by one daughter, Carol.
Surviving are one daughter, Susan (and William) Hoppe; one brother, Jack (and Judi) Miller; companion, Audrey Bundy; one grandchild; and one great-grandchild.
He was TOI executive director from 1979-96. He served as editor of TOI’s magazine (then-Illinois County and Township Official) during his years as executive director.
A township auditor/trustee for 12 years in Leyden Township, he also served as TOI president from 1977-79 before joining TOI’s staff. He was president of the Auditors Division in 1977 when the name changed from auditor to trustee. When president of Township Officials of Cook County, he traveled to Michigan Township Officials Association meeting to represent an ailing Troy Kost (then TOI’s CEO) and began discussions for an organization that would become National Association of Towns and Townships. In May 1976, he helped organize a meeting in Rosemont that resulted in the decision to open an office for the national association in Washington.
He was a tireless worker for township government, who relished taking on the anti-township activists with a fervor based in his belief that townships are essential, and they provide important services.
He said in the 2007 TOI publication “A Centennial Celebration” he would like to be remembered as someone who “was motivated and was able to motivate others. My tenure was an era of change. We doubled the authority townships had during this time.”
After his retirement from TOI, he served the Citizens Utility Board as statewide secretary, volunteered at Chicago History Museum and was active in the Kiwanis.
Visitation will be held from 3-9 p.m. Wednesday at Sax-Tiedemann Funeral Home and Crematorium, 9568 Belmont Ave., Franklin Park. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Inurnment will be at Fairview Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to I.F.S.A. Camp I Am Me (Illinois State Burn Camp), PO Box 911, Mount Prospect, IL 60056.
Condolences may be sent to www.sax-tiedemann.com.
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