Retired Captain Daniel Wayne Miller, 63, of Mansfield, passed away July 17, 2015 after a 26 year hard fought battle with Parkinson’s disease.
He was born in Mansfield on August 24, 1951 and lived his entire life in the area. Captain Dan is the son of Donald Lee Miller and Janet Rose Miller of Mansfield. A 1969 graduate of Madison Comprehensive High School, Captain Dan graduated from the Police Academy in 1971 and spent the next 30 years of his life protecting and serving the citizens of Richland County.
Captain Dan was employed by Richland County Sheriff’s Office in Mansfield since 1970. During his 25 plus years of service Captain Dan served as the commander of the Detective Bureau, Watch Commander, firearms instructor, and was one of the creators of the Richland County Dive Team and Boat Patrol. Captain Dan retired in 2001 after an impressive career filled with awards and accolades; including saving the life of a young child during a flood in Shelby, Ohio. In 2011, he turned his focus to doing his part in finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease that had impacted and impaired his life for so long. The Dan Miller Open was created to raise money in Captain Dan’s name for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease Research. Over the last four years the local golf outing held at Pebble Creek Course, and is run by family, friends and supporters have raised almost $20,000 in Captain Dan’s name to donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation. We are hoping for another successful year to commemorate Captain Dan on August 22, 2015.
In 1979, he was married and is now survived by the love of his life, Chris (Kelser) at the United Methodist Church in Mansfield, Ohio. They have two children, Daniel II (Jessica) of Mansfield, Ohio and Darren (Emily) of Lexington, Ohio; and five grandchildren, Haylie, Logan, Anna, Jase and Baylynn. He is also survived by his in-laws, Betty and Mark Erdenberger of Lucas, Ohio and Pat and Vicki Kelser of Norwood, Minnesota. Captain Dan also leaves behind a brother, David; a sister, Susan both from Mansfield, Ohio; sister-in-law, Brenda (Ron) Maglott; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
There was nothing more important to him than family. He enjoyed yearly vacations to Cancun, his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events, or just spending lots of time with his 5 grandchildren. He also enjoyed watching the Game Show Network and had a passion for Family Feud.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Janet; and baby sister, Sally.
The family will receive all whose lives have been touched by Captain Dan from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at Werner Gompf Funeral Home, 1106 Park Ave East, Mansfield, Ohio. Funeral services will follow at 6:30 p.m. with Brother Dan Gates officiating.
A special thank you to Dr Nyan Win and North Central Ohio Hospice, for such wonderful care of Dan.
In lieu of flowers, the family is respectfully asking for donations to be made to: The Dan Miller Memorial Open, 543 Dirlam Lane, Mansfield, Ohio 44904. To get more information about participating in or donating to the Dan Miller Open please visit: https://www.facebook.com/danmilleropen
Online condolences may be made at www.wernergompf.com
