Chester "Chet" James Miller

Chester James Miller was born June 2nd, 1950 in New Jersey and died on September 20, 2019 in Colorado at the ripe old age of 69. Chet is survived by his sons John and Stephen Miller, daughter Lindsay Heath, grandaughters Addie, Amber, and Emma, brother David, Sister Kathy, and wife Karen Miller. The following is an account of Chets life through the words of his son John. All events and recollections are completely true without any falsehoods, including the parts that are entirely made up. Any discrempencies with the following accounts can be taken up with Chets youngest son Stephen who will do his best to eleviate any incongruities. Reader discretion is advised. What can I say about Dad? He was a man full of spirt, full of laughter, and towards the end, full of grump. He was a man that could turn a phrase into a joke, and turn a joke into an insult. I take after him in both respects. Dad was and continues to be my hero and I was blessed to know more about him than I probably ever wanted to know. Dad started his life out as much of us do, by being born. According to him it was a day that the angels above sang and the doctors applouded as he entered this earthly world. Much joy and overwhelming bliss was held by all who were graced to bear witness to the man that would be known as Chester James Miller. Both parents were overjoyed as they looked upon the son of all sons, the true meaning of manhood. Eventually his parents would try to recreate such glory but only produced a brother, Dave, and sister, Kathy, to which Dad would have to protect for the remaining days of his life. As Dad put it, its' not that his parents were dissappointed in the later lives they produced, but that they had to come to the realization that true greatness can only come along once in a life time. Dad would also have to go through this same perdictmant with his own children. Dad grew up like most children in the 60's. He faught, he played sports, he invented the concept of space and time. You know, usual childhood things. He would eventually be aloud to partake in Highschool were he so far excelled everyone that the dean even asked him to take his job. Dad, being very modest, turned down the offer but did help maintain order and intelligence among the staff and his fellow students. And explemplifying his modesty, he even aloud such highlights as Prom KIng, Homecoming King, and Valedictorian to be given to lesser pupils who he saw as "needing" a little happiness in their life. After high school Dad went on to reinvent the govenments philosophy on their use of military tactics and joined the National Guard and Army. Dad was so ahead of all the other recruits, and this was during the Vietnam Era, that within hours of getting a crew cut he was made a tank comander. The following story is entirely honest, and truly showes the lengths Dad would go to in order to exhibit not only what to do as a soldier but what not to do as well. One evening, Dad took his fellow recruits out to a modest dinner and drinks. After mutch debate they decided they needed some more training on the tank right that instant. And they did just that. The following morning Dad was awoken by a very unpleased sergant who informed him that, although preperation in military tactics is great, aiming a tank at a farmers field and practicing is not. Thus Dad was demoted to cook as the army had to purchase around 300 dead cattle. Dad learned how to cook a great steak. And all rejoiced. After his stint in the military Dad moved to Colorado where he began a career at Martin Marietta. He even helped some young interns in their passions of technological advancement. It was then that he even helped give a young William Gates some great ideas on where technology could go in the future. He had shown the young lad a box he called a Chetputer and a thing he called the Millernet. Later on this young lad would take those ideas and create the world we live in today. Dad, being modest as always, never tried to take credit. Dad continued his work in the technological rhelm helping improve upon such things as the now often known thing as the internet, worked on some of the first cellular phones, and helped stop Y2K from killling us all. During such time he married one Karen Dietz. They would have three children who would all aspire to drain their bank account, cause them early heart attacks, and provide only minimal relief when a night went by that they didn't do something wrong. He was most proud of his efforts to stay sane the last 39 years of his life. Dad finally retired from the workforce several years ago because he discovered that his insights and knowledge into the workings of the world were going unheaded. And if they weren't going to listen why bother. The most inflential thing Dad ever taught any of his children was that love and family were worth far more than anything else in life. Yes, Dad loved his cars, especially the Cobra, and loved a nice vacation. But his family always came first. An idiology he instilled into his children to this very day. He taught us that family was not just blood, but those special people we had the oportunity and blessings we met along the way that truly encompassed how love, life, and laughter should exist. Dad was far and beyond the greatest man I have ever had the privledge of knowing. He loved his family above all things. He would do anything for them at a drop of a dime. I was blessed enough to have him visit me a year ago in Chicago. We went on a mafia tour of the city, ate great Italian food, and laughed. He told me before he left that the trip was the best of his life. Dad was someone that, if you had the opportunity to meet him, would transform you. His children came above all, often holding 2 or 3 jobs during Christmas to make sure he could get them presents. When his grandchildren were born, you would think that the world stopped and the moments holding them and playing with them were in essence invisible to everyone else, for they were experienceing their own true bliss. Dad was an honest man, sometimes too honest. And I was fortunate enough to be the one person he knew that his honesty would never deflect into looking at him negatively. We talked every week. And I truly miss that. Chester James Miller, AKA Chet, AKA Dad, AKA Grandpa was a once in lifetime persona. His life, often exagerated, held truth to the man he was and will continue to be in the minds of his family and friends. Services will be held on February 1, 2020 at 2:00pm at Chapel Hill Mortuary and Cemetery. 6601 S. Colorado Blvd. Centenial, CO 80121 Stories and Misadventures to follow the services.