John Anthony Miller, 92, passed away peacefully at his home at The Colonnade Senior Living in O'Fallon, Ill. on May 26, 2023.  He was born in 1931 in Gary, Ind. to Phyllis Dorothy (nee Billings) and Eugene Krolikowski.  He grew up in Chesterton, Ind. then moved to Jackson Township in 1941.  He attended Jackson Township High School, graduating in 1949.  He went on to the Industrial Training Institute in Chicago, graduating in 1951. He married the love of his life, Shirley Jean Gottlieb, on June 24, 1951 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Valparaiso, Ind.  John proudly served his country during the Korean War as a corporal in the United States Army. He was a heavy equipment mechanic for nearly 30 years and earned numerous specialized training certificates in his field. He and his wife were co-owners of Porter Speed Wash and Rainboutique Antique Shop in Porter, Ind. John was a volunteer fireman for more than 23 years, serving as Fire Chief for the Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department for over 11 years, and was an EMT and first responder. John and Shirley retired to Fairfield Bay, Ark., in 1990 where John kept himself very busy. He had too many hobbies to count, but they included collecting and patiently refinishing antique furniture, fishing, bowling, and stock car racing. Talented in so many ways, he could fix almost anything. Over the years, he amassed an impressive collection of tools, parts and gadgets, all precisely labeled, organized and ready to be employed or borrowed by family and friends.

John was preceded in death by his father Eugene Krolikowski; his mother and adoptive father, Phyllis and Clarence Miller; his step-sister Betty Ann Harding; his twin sons, William and Robert Miller; his brothers in-law, John Biggs and Elmer Gottlieb; his sisters in-law, Beverly Gottlieb and Joretta Gottlieb; and his nephew John Scott Biggs.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 72 years, Shirley Jean Miller (nee Gottlieb) of O'Fallon; son E. Brian (Jennifer) Miller also of O'Fallon;  grandsons Brice Miller of Swansea, Ill., and Blake Miller of Shiloh, Ill.;  sister E. Louise Biggs of Chesterton, Ind.; nieces Peggy (Mike) Sanders of Chesterton and Barb (Kenneth "Sonny") Schau of Valparaiso, Ind.;  nephews John Gottlieb of Wimberley, Texas, Carl Alan Gottlieb of Gary, Ind., and Kevin Biggs of Chesterton, and more extended family members.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Colonnade, the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, and Unity Hospice for their partnership, care, and compassion in navigating this difficult time.

Visitation will be held on June 2, 2023 from 1-3 p.m. at Wolfersberger Funeral Home in O'Fallon, Ill. followed by a Memorial Service, to include Military Honors, to begin at 3 p.m., with Chaplain Kerry Turk officiating. The family kindly prefers no flowers but would welcome kind thoughts and prayers or donations to the American Cancer Society (cancer.org) or the Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 2123, Chesterton, IN 46303. The online guestbook is available at www.wfh-ofallon.com.

Wolfersberger Funeral Home, O'Fallon, Ill.