Wendell Miller
Wendell Donald Miller, age 92, passed away peacefully at his home in Lake Bluff, Ill., on Jan. 8, 2026. He was born June 20, 1933, to Eunice Miller in Minneapolis, Minn., and raised in Canby, Minn., and later inducted into the Canby High School Hall of Fame. Wendy graduated from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., in 1955 and soon thereafter married Marlene Gesell, originally from Winona, Minn. They lived in Hopkins, Minn., where Wendy was a salesman for Carnation Foods and then Gillette, and Marlene taught seventh grade English. Wendy and Marlene later lived in Atlanta, Ga., where Wendy worked for Papermate before settling in Lake Bluff in 1963, where they raised their family. He later formed a financial planning firm in downtown Chicago, which he continued to work for into his late 80s.
Wendy loved people and athletics. One of his greatest gifts was the ability to get to know someone, anyone. He was a born salesman, storyteller, and organizer of sporting events. Wendy started organizing pickup basketball games on Saturdays at Lake Forest College shortly after they moved to Lake Bluff. In the early 1970s he founded Midwest Masters, a club for runners over 40, and later Club North Shore. He organized the first Lake Bluff Marathon, and numerous track and field meets for Midwest Masters. Additionally, he wrote an irreverent monthly column for the National Masters News. Wendy is probably best known as ‘Marathon Miller’ and for his work in helping to start and serving as the original race director for the Chicago Marathon.
Wendy is preceded in death by his grandparents, Harry McGorman and Anne Fellows McGorman; mother, Eunice; wife, Marlene; and son, Robin Miller. He is survived by daughters: Julie Hawley (Peter), and Muffet Trout (John); son, Peter Miller; daughter-in-law, Susan Perko; grandchildren: Drew Hawley, Elizabeth Hawley (Heather), Jai Miller, Margot Trout, and Robinson Miller; great-grandchildren: Cora and Will Hawley, and Mason and Lauren Hawley.
A memorial service will be held at Grace United Methodist Church, 244 E. Center Ave., Lake Bluff, Ill., on May 30 at 11 a.m. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. The family requests that memorials be given to the church.