Bill Miller
By Michael R. Reilly
Early Childhood
Bill Miller was born on November 10, 1919, the first childof William J. Miller Jr. and Margaret Mary Semrow. People often thought thatBill was the “Jr.” to his father because of the same initials. Themiddle initial J for his father stood for Jacob while Bill’s was John. Bill’sbirth occurred two months after his parents had purchased their new home in thetown of Hadfield (Town of Menomonee), later to be called the village of Lannon.
In September, 1925, Bill began his education at the LannonState Graded School on the site of the present Lannon Village Hall and FireDepartment. The schoolhouse was four rooms within a wood structure that had beenbuilt some thirty-six years earlier.
He was often called “Billy” during his youth andthat name first appeared in the “Lannon School Notes” on December 19,1930 when he sold the most Christmas Seals in the 6th Grade. The Lannon SchoolNotes recorded the happenings at Lannon Graded School, penned by variousstudents and teachers for inclusion into the weekly Menomonee Fall News. Lannondidn’t have their own newspaper, and depended on local”correspondents” to gather village stories and events for the News.About a month later, Bill once again appeared in the newspaper, but this time toreport that he had recovered from the mumps and returned to school.
Shortly after he entered 7th grade, Bill was electedvice-president of the 6th & 7th grade Literary Society. His best friend,Keith Gissal, was elected treasurer. This began, for the two of them a longassociation with writing throughout their school years together.
While in Miss Hilgert’s 7th grade class, Bill was named”Good Citizen”.
Keith Gissal explained that while both he and Bill playeda little baseball, they enjoyed playing football. First mention of Bill’sinvolvement was in October of 1931, when in the 7th grade, he played for theLannon School team. His position was left guard.
Late in the 8th grade, Bill was appointed class co-editor.Later in the 10th grade, he had his first joke published in the News.
Lady (atthe almond counter): ” Who attends to the nuts?”
Wise Guy(William Miller): “Be patient, I’ll wait on you in a minute”.
These jokes continued throughout high school, some not as good as this one.
His High School Years
In the January 14, 1935 newspaper edition, Bill appearswith his first by-line as the Lannon School Notes editor. Later in April, duringthe school Open House, he made his acting debut by appearing in a skit called ,”Amos & Andy and Their Friends”.
On May 28, 1935, Bill received his “Certificate ofAttainment” during graduation exercises for completing two years of highschool at Lannon Graded School.
Two weeks later, Bill, along with brother John, receivedbadges at the Lannon Hall advancing them to the rank of Boy Scout in LannonTroop 25.
Bill began attending Menomonee Falls High School inSeptember of 1935 with three other former Lannon 10th graders, including Keith.
His second acting event was in the Lannon Boy Scout Troop25 play, “Chicken Lifter’s Convention”. Bill appeared in the part of”Banty Smith”.
Toward the end of his junior year, Bill once again took upthe pen and became editor of the “Junior Class Notes”. His writingwasn’t always appreciated by his fellow classmates, as he complained in onecolumn as having to dodge missiles thrown at him from dark school alleys(hallways). A lot of his writing seemed focused on the school romances of theday.
Bill had other activities. He and Keith would caddie atNorth Hills Country Club in Menomonee Falls. Sometimes they would hitchhike to”The Links” golf course near Appleton Ave. and Silver Spring inMilwaukee to play golf.
He continued his Cupid arrow attacks on classmates when hestarted as editor of the “Senior Class Notes”. When he took a pause aseditor, he soon became the target. He and Keith were reported seeing someMuskego girls.
No sooner than he’s romantically linked, he joined a new,boys only, club at school called the “Stoney Hearts Club”. Its memberswere not to be seen anywhere or anyplace in the presence of women. As a resultof this club, the girls formed the “Anti-Boys Club”.
When not at school, and sometimes they skipped out, theyraised a little “hell”. They never did any damage but had a lot offun. Bill was of good temper and didn’t get mad. One time on a trip to downtownMilwaukee they came upon a man with his arms filled with purchases. The manasked Bill to pull his hat down because it was a windy day and didn’t want tolose it. Bill in turn pulled the hat down over the man’s ears and eyes and thentook off laughing. They also went into taverns to have a drink. As long as theydidn’t start any trouble they were left alone.
A big event in his last year of high school was the SeniorClass Play. In December, 1936 the class put on the gay farce Happy-Go-Lucky. As”Uncle Andy” he broke people’s watches in testing one of hisinventions.
During this time, Bill was also known as”Salty”, like his father. He had a reputation of telling jokes heheard on the radio, others he made up on his own. For a 1937 New Year’sresolution, Salty Miller resolved to stop making his classmates laugh duringclasses.
During the 2nd semester, his “Senior ClassNotes” by-line was often, “Professor William Miller”. Bill wouldwrite “Brain Busters” for their amusement. Here’s one example; Q.”What’s the difference between duck?” A. “One leg is both thesame”. (Writer’s note – This is exactly how it appeared in the News.)
According to Florence Miller, Bill also wrote a highschool sports column for the Milwaukee Journal newspaper.
Bill graduated from Menomonee Falls High School on May 30,1937. After graduation he continued to live at home with his family.
Post High School
His name surfaces again in the News during February, 1938,when he covers the Lannon basketball team games for the newspaper.
Not until July, 1939 is he heard of, when it’s reportedthat he started to work for the Lannon Coal and Ice Company. Later in January of1940, he went with Keith and brother John out to the “Ski Jump” inOconomowoc for a little skiing.
The War Years
Adult responsibilities came quickly when he had to reportto the local draft board during April of 1941. On May 27, 1941 he was officiallyinducted into the army. During the first week of June, he was able to come homeon leave from Camp Grant. The following week his regiment shipped out to CampDavis in North Carolina.
In August, friends and family were receiving cards fromhim at Camp Holabird in Maryland. Bill probably spent a little time there andthen went back to North Carolina. It was from here in October that he wastransferred to Georgia to attend a mechanic school for up to three months.
For Christmas, Bill is able to come home on a weekfurlough. He met up with another soldier in Chicago and the two of them droveback down to Fort McPherson, Georgia to resume training. At the end of January,1942, Bill graduated from the motor transport school. Early in May he was ableto come home on a ten day leave. Bill may have been transferred soon aftergraduation to Virginia for in December he writes home from there and the letterwas reprinted in the Menomonee Falls News:
Dec. 7, 1942
Dear Friends,
I have been hearing from you and about you regularly. So Ibelieve it is about time you heard from me.
I received the package you sent a few days ago. In fact, Iam using some of the stationary that was in right now. I want to thank everyonewho contributed the articles that were in it.
As it is hard for me to thank everyone with a personalletter, I hope my thanks will be conveyed to them through this letter.
Well, our sunny south hasn’t been so sunny the last fewdays. We had a cold spell that caught most of the people around here, so tospeak, “with their pants down”. Steaming radiators of frozen up autoscould be seen everywhere. It was one of those days when the old woollies came inmighty handy.
Today the air was filled with soft feathery flakes ofsnow. As if that song “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas” came true.Tonight the soft blanket that covered the ground was erased by pelting drops ofrain.
The first of the month I was honored by a promotion. I nowhave the rank of Staff Sergeant with a salary of ninety-six per, which is quitea contrast to the twenty-one I was handed 18 months ago.
I received the Menomonee Falls News each week and it’sgood to read about happenings back home. I enjoyed your paper Ammunitionvery much. It helped me get in touch with some of my old buddies.
I guess I have scribbled enough so I say So Long.
S/Sgt. William J. Miller
HQ. Btry. 1st Bn 85th CA (AA)
Gen. Del., Newport News, Va.
*Writer’s note – Ammunition was a supplement news letter that theParents Service Organization (P.S.O.) sent out to the local boys in the service.It kept them abreast of where their friends and neighbors were stationed and howto contact them.
Another letter from Bill appears five months later:
May 5, 1943
Dear Friends,
After roaming up and down our east coast for two years, Ifind myself in the land of the golden west. I am now located in that vast stateof Texas at Fort Bliss, near the city of El Paso.
El Paso is in the extreme western tip of Texas, fartherwest than Denver, farther north than New Orleans. I don’t know if that helps anybut there’s were I am. El Paso is situated on the Rio Grande River and rightacross the border is the city of Juarez, Mexico.
I have been over to Juarez a few times and in someinstances is like Wisconsin. On the whole their quaint customs, curios, andspots of interest are worth observing. On Easter Sunday I witnessed one of theirfamous bull fights, although I can say it didn’t exactly appeal to me , itsettled a life-long ambition to see one. The people of Mexico are very friendlyand you are always assured of a good time.
The American dollars goes a long way in Mexico it beingworth about four times the amount of their dollar. I had a nice big T-bone steakand all the trimmings for forty-five cents. Up there I don’t believe you can buythat amount of meat at the butchers for that price.
The queer thing about going to Mexico, you must only taketwo dollar bills and silver with you. Bills of other denominations are seized.Just what the reason is I don’t know. But I believe it’s to avoid the passing ofcounterfeit bills.
We’re about thirty-seven hundred feet above sea level hereand the air is very rare. Many of the boys had a hard time getting used to itbeing subject to constant nose bleeds. We are entirely surrounded by mountainsand on a couple occasions some of the boys and I climbed to the top of one ofthem. We were up high enough to look down on the airplanes flying around theFort. Personally I think I’ll look for an easier way to get exercise.
I understand some of the local boys are stationed at thisFort. If that is true, I would appreciate obtaining their address so we couldget together and do a fling Wisconsin style.
S/Sgt. William J. Miller
HQ. Btry. 786th C.A. Bn
AAATC, Fort Bliss, Texas
A few months later, in July, Bill mailed his father abirthday present from his station on the Mexican border. When his brother Johngot married to Helen Narr while on leave in November, 1943, Bill was able to geta furlough to attend the wedding.
Almost a month later, Bill was stationed at Muroc Army AirField in Muroc, California.
The following April Bill has been transferred to CampCooke and writes home to friends:
Camp Cooke, Calif
April 9, 1944
Dear Friends,
Don’t be too surprised I usually don’t make with theprose, but after receiving your Easter package I just had to write and expressmy appreciation.
The contents of the package were unusually good and afterjourneying to the PX for a few bottles of that Milwaukee beer my buddies and Isat down to a feast that smacked more or less of the old get-togethers we onceenjoyed back home.
Each time I received one of your packages the boys are alla little envious even though they get more than a share of it, for I told themof your organization and the wonderful work it does. They all express the wishfor a similar group in their home towns. Hollywood has its Canteen, New York hasits stage door Canteen, but only Menomonee Falls has a P.S.O.. From reading theletters of the fellows in the News who benefited from your services I know youhave a large cheering section. Not wishing to bore you with any army routine,I’ll close with many thanks.
S/Sgt William J. Miller
* Writer’s note – P.S.O. stands for Parents Service Organization.
In late May of ’44 Bill is able to come home and visitwith his family. Later in August he is transferred back to Texas.
* Writer’s note – For some unknown reason the regular Lannon news columndoesn’t appear in the Menomonee Falls News from approximately October, 1944 tonearly the end of August, 1945. Little tidbits of information were scatteredthroughout the newspaper. In both of brother John’s letters that were published,he complains of the lack of home news and wonders if Lannon has fallen off themap.
Additional information from his wife Florence indicatesthat Bill was overseas in Europe from February 19,1945 until September 12, 1945.He was in the Battle of the Rhineland and spent time in Germany, Paris, andDenmark. For his military service he received a service stripe, a service barAmerican Defense ribbon, an American Campaign Medal – European including oneBronze Star. In addition he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the World WarII Victory Medal.
Post War Years
In September, 1945, Bill telephones he’s in Boston andwill be returning home soon for an extended furlough. On November 11, 1945 he ishonorably discharged from the armed forces.
During the Labor Day weekend in 1946, Bill visits hisparents with Miss Florence Ann Jadwick, along with her mother, Mrs. Paul Jadwick.After Bill was discharged, he found work in Chicago with the Lasham CartageCompany as a mechanic and met Florence through her father, a fellow co-worker.
Marriage and a Family
September 28, 1946 Bill marries Florence Ann Jadwick in aceremony held in Bridgeview (Willow Springs ?), Illinois. Florence was born andraised in the Chicago area, the daughter of Paul Anthony Jadwick Sr. and MaryannClaira Parzych.
Soon after, the couple had a son, William John Miller Jr.but he died at an early age. Later another son was born to them, Paul WilliamMiller, on April 3, 1951. A daughter, Susan Ann, followed on September 3, 1953.Both Paul and Susan were born at the Evangelical Lutheran Hospital in Chicago.
Life was difficult for the young couple, as it was formany during the years following the war. They lived with Florence’s parents inBridgeview for ten years. During that time they would borrow her parents car andvisit with Bill’s family in Wisconsin once a year. At times Bill’s family wouldcome to visit, especially his father and step-brother Erv. Since both his fatherand Erv were big baseball fans, those visits usually included a trip to theChicago ballpark to see the Cubs play.
Other than his interest in baseball, Bill enjoyed bowlingand a good round of golf. At least once, he brought son Paul to Wisconsin andplayed a round at Scenic View Country Club with brother-in-law Bob Reilly andnephew Mike. (Writers note – I remember standing off to the side of the 7th teewith cousin Paul, at what we thought was a safe spot to be, when Uncle Billshanked his drive and nailed Paul in the arm with golf ball. Most of his golfgame was usually better.)
Something unfortunate for all was that Bill nevercontinued with his apparent love for the writing and acting that was so much apart of his early life.
In 1955, the family moved to Niles, Illinois and remainedthere through today (same house ?).
Bill left Lasham Cartage (when?) and went to work forInterstate Freight.
Life wasn’t always easy for Bill. His inheritedhypertension was something he dealt with most of his life and took medication tocontrol it. Yet he suffered a stroke in July of 1969. He did recover after threemonths and return to work.
Retirement
Bill entered retirement on July 30, 1977. Threegrandchildren given to him and Florence by son Paul and wife Nancy, kept himbusy as a grandfather. They are Kristine, Rebecca, and William, soon followed bya granddaughter from daughter Susan and her husband Dale. Amy Margaret Andersonwas born on April 18, 1985.
The stroke that paralyzed his whole right side came inOctober of 1979. For twelve long years he and his family dealt with what he knewwas his cross that God gave him and accepted it. Bill practiced his Catholicfaith and attended St. John Brebeuf in Niles, something that probably helpedsustain him through these years.
When asked if Bill had many qualities or faults, FlorenceMiller replied that he had many. He was very devoted to her and the children. Hewas kind, gentle, and happy-go-lucky. Ever with the joke with nothing seeming tobother him; the only fault Florence thought he had.
William “Bill” J. Miller died at the VA Hospitalin North Chicago on January 1, 1991. The family held a funeral mass at St.John’s Brebeuf on the fourth that was followed by a wake at Skaja TerraceFuneral Home. Bill was laid to rest at St. Adalbert Cemetery. All who knew him,loved or respected him.
Sources: Interview with Keith Gissal, the Menomonee FallsNews on microfilm at the Maude Shunk Library in Menomonee Falls, WI., FlorenceAnn Miller.