Robert Ray Miller

Bob probably no longer remembered that his Illini kept Colorado from an undefeated football season in 1990, but he surely would have enjoyed razzing the hospital staff about it if he had.

That’s because Bob was a good-natured, wisecracking friend to everyone he met, and a sports fan extraordinaire, a champion of Chicago teams — White Sox, Cubs, Bulls, even the sorry Bears — and simply a champion to his family and friends. He attended a White Sox victory in the 2005 World Series, marveling that such a thing was even possible, and decorated his pool room with Sox memorabilia.

Did someone say pool? Bob loved shooting pool his entire life, loved winning 9-ball games in his various leagues for over 20 years, and winning money from his brother. He proudly wore the jacket he won as the champion of the 2014 (and 2017) Derek Sanderson 9-ball Classics.

But for all the games and jokes, the friendly wagers and impromptu tournaments, Bob was far more devoted to family. He taught his son to hit a baseball and keep the scorebook at age 10, and pitched countless hours of batting practice. As Big Dipper to his Little Dipper-nicknamed daughter, he led meetings of a local father-daughter bonding club, and attended dozens of Pekin High games just to watch her lead cheers. He was a fixture at his grandkids’ swim meets, wrestling matches and halftime shows.

He had retired by that time, having enjoyed a fulfilling career as a certified public accountant in Pekin, the owner of a bookkeeping practice at Eighth and Court. Bob eventually sold the practice, which had been founded by his father, and later spent more than a decade as the chief financial officer at Fansteel, Inc., in Waukegan.

Bob was born June 4, 1938, in Pekin to James Edward and Merna Lucille (Boyle) Miller, who taught him that a parent’s love is everlasting. When his brother Tim was born 10 years later, they became each other’s best friend for life, traveling to motorcycle races and pool tournaments over several decades. He was a sprinter on the Pekin High track team, and a trumpet player in the school band, and later had the honor of lugging the bass drum around for the Illini Marching Band.

He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1960 with a degree in accounting. He went to work at a bank in Chicago, but after marrying Joyce Carol Wille of Beecher, Ill., in 1961 and starting a family, they moved back to Pekin in 1966.

The couple divorced in 1978, and Bob married Cherie Cummings on Jan. 7, 1984. They settled in Libertyville, where they lived until 2021, with Bob devoted to tenderly caring for Cherie as her health declined. They moved to Colorado Springs to be near family in 2021, and Cherie passed away on April 18, 2023.

In between, they traveled throughout the United States and Canada and visited Europe several times. One of Bob’s favorite trips was in January 2009 to Washington, D.C., where he proudly witnessed the presidential inauguration of fellow Illinoisan Barack Obama.

Bob was a recklessly aggressive euchre player and a willing foil for his grandkids’ mischief. He enjoyed making delicious bowls of popcorn, delightfully dry martinis and preposterously lop-sided wagers, willing to lose a few dollars in order to motivate and entertain his guests. If the stories were fun and the competition hot, his parties could outlast the night. One more game? Yeah, Dad, rack ‘em.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife Cherie; a brother, James Edward Miller Jr.; and one grandson, Tyler Joe Young. He is survived by a brother, Tim (Patricia) Miller of Monument, Colo., and four children and step-children, Phil (Linda) Miller of Afton, Minn.; Julie (Jeff) Hines of Leesburg, Va.; Jeffrey Steele of Pekin; and Jennifer (Paul) King of Palatine, Ill.

He also was proud to be the grandfather of 11 grandchildren: Alexis Young, Tyler Joe Young, Lauren Hines, Dalton Hines, Briley Hines, Andrew King, Erica King, Bethany Lingenfelter, Brittany Poglioli, Krista (Craig) Ferraro and Mitch Fantin.

A funeral in Bob’s honor will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, July 14, 2023 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Pastor Judy Steger Kennedy will officiate. Visitation will be held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Pekin, and a celebration-of-life gathering will be held for all mourners at Avanti’s restaurant, 3610 Kelly Ave., in Pekin.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Tyler Joe Young Memorial Fund via https://www.cfnova.org/donate/young-memorial-fund, a charity in honor of Bob’s grandson which was established to provide grants to organizations that assist children and young adults in need of mental health and addiction services.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com