With family beside him, listening to the sounds of birds playing in the background, Henry Herbert Miller passed away at La Verendrye Hospital in Fort Frances, Ontario, on September 3, 2025.
Dad was born to Bethel and Clifford Miller just outside of LaVallee, Ontario, on June 10, 1935, the eldest of eight children. He is survived by his children Willie (Lucy), Tara (Rob), Kip (Lynne), Nancy (Sandy), Kaela (Dwayne), Dana (Alex), Jody (Chris), Alexis (Brian); and five siblings Jim (Sophie), Betty, Jan, Bob (Denise), Josie (Randy) and his brother-in-law Jack and his wife, Noella. He also leaves behind fourteen grandchildren Randy (Krys), Lauren (Jeremy), Bradley (Roxy), Danny (Carly), Hannah (Tyler), Jeff (Robyn), Jessica (Garrett), Zachary (Karlie), Sam, Jaida, Amy, Kailey (Jon), Brittany (Kyle), Ariyana, and his great-grandchildren Isla, Rachel, Scotland, Collins, Natalie, Alice, Jonathan, Hudson, Georgia, Scarlett, Stella, Josie and a soon-to-be brother, and most recently, Theo and Luca.
Henry is predeceased by his wife Joan; his brother Tom; his sister Margaret.
Dad spent his early years on the family farm in Crozier across from what is now the golf course. He attended the one-room schoolhouse in Crozier. In grade eight, his final year as an elementary student, he was hired to be the school’s caretaker. It seemed natural that Dad would spend much of his life involved in schools. Dad took coursework first in Thunder Bay and then at Normal School (Teacher’s College) in North Bay. It was there Dad received his teaching degree and met his future wife, Joan. She was his one true love. After they got married Dad and Mom settled in Dryden, LaVallee and ultimately in Fort Frances. Their family grew to include eight children. Dad taught for 35 years, the majority of which was spent in Fort Frances schools. He was a teacher at Huffman, Robert Moore, Alexander McKenzie and JW Walker. He became a principal before deciding to return to what he liked best: the classroom. Generations of students were inspired by his teaching inside and outside the classroom. Dad never left teaching behind.
After he retired at the age of 55 he volunteered with the Sportsman Club where he began a club to introduce younger kids to conservationism. Over the 22 years Dad was involved, The Junior Conservation Club received three awards from Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters for their efforts. Dad became well-known for his efforts to monitor the district’s bluebird population through the Ontario Eastern Bluebird Society. Dad went into classrooms to get kids to help build the birdhouses that would form the bluebird trails he established in the area. Dad was honoured to receive recognition and awards through the years for his many works promoting conservation. He and Mom traveled to Whitehorse where Dad accepted the Roland Michener Conservation Award from the Canadian Wildlife Federation. But his greatest reward was seeing his children and grandchildren fall in love with the outdoors. Throughout his career and years of helping raise eight children, Dad found time to do those things he thought were important. He knew that being physically active was key to a long life, and all the better if it were done outdoors. He was a bowler, a runner, a hockey player. He canoed and camped. He cross-country skied, he snowshoed. He gardened, he cut and split wood and he hunted, both with a bow and a rifle. No matter how hectic life became Dad often brought home a bouquet of wildflowers for Mom. He made sure they got out on the dance floor whenever the opportunity came up.
Mom and Dad were married for 55 years when Joan passed away in 2013. After Mom’s death, Dad learned to live on his own in the home he and Mom created. He did so with the pragmatism that was a hallmark of his life. He found his place at Knox United Church. Dad was drawn to the church where Mom was a member and it was there his own faith grew. He could be seen sitting in the pew, tapping his feet to the upbeat hymns he liked. And he could be spotted about town on his daily walks. Dad walked more in his later years than most walk in their entire life. Dad was a regular fixture at morning coffee, meeting old and new friends. He shared with quiet pride, stories about his kids and grandkids and great-grandkids. He talked about his conservation work. And of course he talked about his life.
Dad was a great story-teller and many of his stories involved the time he spent in the bush. Throughout his life Dad relished his time outdoors, whether it be taking students out on a canoe trip or a camping trip, out hunting, spending time gardening or just out on his property in Crozier — The Farm — the outdoors was Dad’s second home. He was out at the Farm with some of his family members the week before he died, driving the tractor he bought as a birthday present for himself, making use of his chainsaw. Always a teacher at heart, Dad was scheduled to attend the annual Retired Teacher’s Breakfast marking the first day of school, as he did most years since his retirement. He never made it this year and passed away the day following this event.
Dad lived most of his life in the Rainy River District. Although the area in which he lived his life was small, the way Dad led his life was not. A service to honour Dad’s life will be held on Saturday, September 13, at 11:00 a.m. at Knox United Church in Fort Frances, Ontario. The service will be followed by a reception in the basement hall of the church. A private family internment is planned. The honourary pallbearers will be all of his grandchildren. If anyone would like to make donations in his name Dad has requested they be made to Knox United Church, 340 Church Street, Fort Frances, ON. P9A 1E1.
Arrangements entrusted to Northridge Funeral Home Ltd., Emo, Ontario.
