Obituary of Franklin Thomas Miller

Franklin Thomas "Jiggs" Miller died in Duluth on October 13, 2018 at Essentia Health after a brief illness.

Jiggs was born in Aitkin, MN to William and Elsie Miller on December 31, 1925. He was nicknamed Jiggs when he was three days old by his nurse in the hospital. She thought he looked like Jiggs from the comic strip Jiggs and Maggie. He was raised on a farm south of Tamarack, MN and attended school at The Red Brick School south of Tamarack and later in McGregor, MN.

On March 2, 1944 at the age of 18, he was drafted into the Navy. He served in the South Pacific and Japan on the USS Argone. Later he served on the USS Quartz which conducted the first atomic bomb test on the Bikini Atoll, Marshall Island in July of 1946.

After the war was over he was discharged with honors and moved to Fairmount, ND to be close to family. He earned his high school diploma from Fairmount High School, graduating in 1947. He met the love of his life, Eva Wawers, in high school. They were married on June 15, 1949. This June they would have celebrated their 70th year of marriage.

Jiggs worked with his family until owning Miller's Cafe in Fairmount, ND. In 1952 he moved his family to Duluth, MN to work for Sears. He started at the bottom and worked his way up to managing the hardware department for 15 years and then managing the appliance department for another 17 years. He retired from Sears in 1984.

Jiggs was a proud member of the Army National Guard in Duluth for 37 years as a First Sergeant and Mess Sergeant. He was a past member and commander of the Lakeview American Legion in Lakeside for over 50 years until it dissolved. He then became a member of Post 71 in West Duluth. Jiggs was an active member of St. Michael's Catholic Church for over 60 years, ushering and volunteering at the Used-A-Bit shop. He was a board member of the Lakeside AARP chapter 2505 and enjoyed attending monthly meetings and activities.

Jiggs loved to cook for a crowd, fish whenever possible, garden, play cribbage and create woodworking projects. Many people in Duluth and beyond had the privilege of owning some of his wood creations. In his later years he was known for baking and delivering his special baking creations to friends and family, especially cookies.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers and sisters, William, John, Richard, Robert, Harold, Gerald, Erlene and Florence. He was the last of the nine Miller siblings.

He will be lovingly remembered by wife, Eva; daughters, Shelley Robertson of Coeur d' Alene, ID, Cindy (Shawn Dunlevy) Miller of Gordon, WI and Venice, FL, Marcia (Bill) Opien of Duluth; sisters-in-law, Betty Miller, Sharon Miller, Aggie Miller, Angie Miller and Marlene Johnson; many special nieces and nephews; his always supportive "Guard" family, Art "Bingo" Bringe, Gordy Atol, Rick Johnston and Larry Sharp plus numerous friends. Jiggs set a fine example of always being kind, helpful and considerate to others and will be missed by all.

Gathering of family and friends from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, Oct. 20th at St. Michael's Catholic Church, 4901 E. Superior St, Duluth, MN.