Thomas James Miller, 94, passed away on Monday, October 19, 2026 at Trustwell Settler’s House in La Porte, IN after a nearly year long struggle.
Thomas (also known as Tom or TJ) was born at home in La Porte to Walter F. and Madeline A. (Wildt) Miller on June 25, 1932.
He was a graduate of La Porte High School in 1950 and began working at Allis Chalmers after graduation until entering the US Army. He was a proud veteran who served in the Korean War. Upon his discharge from active duty, he drove heavy equipment, assisting on the building of the Toll Road. He was part owner of a sign shop in Michigan City as an accomplished sign painter and letterer. Many of his signs are still present today around La Porte, including the ones to the entrance of the city for the LaPorte High School baseball championships.
He then moved on to being a delivery driver for Pepsi until 1966 when he was hired to become a La Porte City Firefighter. He became a state certified Master Firefighter and later served as shift Captain, Assistant Chief and then Chief of the entire department. He retired in 1988 after 22 years of service. He then worked for the La Porte County Highway department for 7 years as a sign painter and snowplow driver. After his second retirement from public service, he worked at area golf courses for another 15 years.
On September 29,1956, Tom married Marie Dolores Konieczny at Sacred Heart Church in La Porte. Although that union ended in divorce in 1986, it produced six children – Kathleen (Tim) Neal of Alpharetta, GA; Carol Meyers of La Porte, Judith (Brian) Hogie of South Bend, and Andrew Miller, Sandra Miller and Michael Miller, all of La Porte. He also had six grandchildren – Joshua (Patti) Meyers, Colleen Neal, Brent (Elisa) Neal, Ethan Hogie, Elise Hogie and Erica Hogie and 3 great-grandchildren (Conner, Ashlynn and Adalynn). He took great pride in Joshua becoming a LaPorte firefighter and Erica’s artistic abilities.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters (Doris Mills and Barbara Snow) and his brother Harold, in addition to his ex-wife Marie and second wife Sally.
Tom enjoyed working during Fair Week at Pioneerland in their Post Office where he painted many signs around the fairgrounds. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 83 and VFW 1130. He was a lifetime fan (and shareholder) of the Green Bay Packers. He enjoyed the Arts in the Park concerts and watching youth baseball games of his great-grandson Conner. He was a charter member on the Mayor’s Veterans Committee and helped to construct the Walkway of Honor.
One of the greatest adventures of his life occurred when he was selected to participate in the Honor Flight Chicago in 2016 was able to fly to Washington DC with other Korean and Vietnam veterans and tour the monuments and sights. He enjoyed cooking, bowling and golf for much of his life but his passion was creating hundreds of wooden pins that he painted and decorated and then passed around to various people he met on a daily basis. He made them for every season – Christmas trees and Santas, Halloween, fall leaves, Easter eggs, etc. If you were fortunate, you got your name lettered on the pin he gave you!!! His absolute favorite was firecracker pins for the July 4th parade.
The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Miller’s Health and Rehabilitation (especially Morgan), the entire staff at Trustwell Settler’s House, Dunes Hospice and Drs Dixon, Edquist and Ogundipe.
Visitation will be held from 4-7pm Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel, 1117 Indiana Avenue, La Porte, Indiana.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11am Thursday, October 29, 2026,at the Funeral Home, where family and friends may visit one hour prior to the services on Thursday.
Burial will be at Patton Cemetery with military honors.
Memorial contributions may be made to Honor Flight, Chicago, https://secured.
Family and friends are invited to light a virtual candle, share a memory, or leave a message of comfort for the family by visiting esslingfuneralhome.com.
