Joel W. Miller (Joe) passed away unexpectedly on July 29, 2024 at his home north of Howard Lake.
Joe was born on September 29, 1961, to Wilton and Eldora (Dorie) Miller. He attended Howard Lake-Waverly Elementary School and High School, graduating in 1980.
Joe had several jobs in his younger years including working at Broll Fertilizer, American Feeds, fishing in Alaska with the Schmitz boys, training racehorses with his good friend, Derek LaZarre, and working for area farmers. On April 1, 1989, he began his career as a well driller at Mattson Well Co. just across the road from his home. Joe drilled many, many wells and he remembered every one.
He is survived by his daughter, Jessica Tack of Austin, TX, his mother, Dorie Miller of Howard Lake, his siblings Julie McSweeney (Terry Alverez) of Plymouth, Ann Sheahan (Randy) of De Pere, Wisconsin, Donna Brezinka (Tony Austinson) of Maple Grove, Alan Miller of Howard Lake, and Ruth Oestreich (Dave) of Howard Lake.
He is further survived by his nieces and nephew, Lindsay McSweeney of Maple Grove, Caitlin Leggitt (Kyle) of Dayton, Madison Canizales (John) of Minnetonka, Mackenzie Brezinka of Maple Grove and Drew Oestreich of Marquette, Michigan. Great niece and nephew, River and Noah Leggitt.
Joe had many friends that he considered family including the Schmitz’s, Lazarre’s, Heuer’s, Sawatzke’s, the Yager Farm gang and many more.
He was preceded in death by his dad, Wilton Miller.
A memorial service will be held at Swanson Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake from 1-2:30 pm on Saturday, August 3, 2024 followed by a luncheon and beers at the Howard Lake American Legion. We would have had a more elaborate memorial for Joe, but he spent all his money at Canterbury.
Joe’s family wishes to thank you for your kind expression of friendship, sympathy, and support. No acknowledgements will be sent.
We will all miss Joe’s laugh, his stubbornness and sarcasm.
And as Joe would say “GO PACK GO”.