Barbara Marie Miller, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away on June 10, 2026, surrounded by members of her family, whom she made sure everyone knew were the most important people in her life.
Barbara was born on May 6, 1943, in Pontiac, Illinois, to the late George and Nettie (Juenger) Akers.
Barb grew up on farms near Pontiac, Herscher and Clifton. Barb excelled at every grade level and in higher education, graduating second in her class from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais in three years while having small children at home. She met her husband, Richard Miller, while both worked at Walgreens in Kankakee. The two married on November 22, 1961.
Barb was a young mother who somehow managed to do it all. While raising her five sons, she continued her education and built a successful career as a public school teacher and then with the United States Department of Defense, where she blazed trails for women. Her public service took her to Europe twice. Barb was an avid reader, and she did her best to stay informed and cared deeply about public policy decision-making and how it shaped people’s lives.
Barb loved to cook, garden and found great joy in gathering family around the table. She delighted in doing craft projects with her children and then her grandchildren, and teaching them how to cook her popular “specialties” that her children loved and then made on their own when they grew up. She made sure that her sons knew how to do every task at home so they wouldn’t be a burden on anyone else.
Barb treasured her family. She particularly adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who brought her endless happiness and pride. Time spent with them was among her most cherished moments right up to the end. Her boundless love for them will remain a guiding light in their lives.
Barbara is survived by her loving husband of more than six decades, Richard; her brother, Kenny George Akers; her five sons Richard, Dennis, Douglas (w. Shannon), Darian (w. Tonya) and Devin (w. Sharrie); her grandchildren Kristina, Vanessa, Crystal, Rosalee, Nicholas, Morgan, Reagan, Isabel, Ryan, Aiden, Adeline, Matilda, Max, and Devin; and her great-grandchildren Alexander, Aiden and Cali.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Nettie Akers, and her sisters Janet Bollheimer and Helen Jean May, and her great granddaughter Maddie Adkinson.
The Miller family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to her caregivers who provided Barbara with compassionate care, comfort, and support during her final months, weeks and days.
Visitation will be held on June 19 from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, 114 E. Main St., Geneseo, Illinois. Funeral services will immediately follow the visitation. Interment will take place at 11:00 a.m. on June 20 at Rooks Creek Cemetery near Pontiac, Illinois.
She will be deeply missed. Barbara leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, kindness, intelligence, accomplishment and, most importantly, a family devotion that will continue through the generations she cherished so dearly.
In lieu of flowers, the Miller family encourages you to make a generous donation to your preferred charity in Barbara’s name.
Many thanks to Isabel for helping put that together.
* This is worth a listen. It’s the last time my mom had an extended talk with my brother Devin’s younger kids…
