Colonel Gary W. Miller USMC (Ret), 71, of Kewanee, died at 9:16 p.m., Friday, April 14, 2023 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

A private Celebration of Life with Military Rites will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Neponset American Legion Post #875 and can be sent c/o Lorene Decatur, 730 S. East St. Kewanee, IL 61443. Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee is assisting the family with arrangements.

“The Colonel” was born October 6, 1951 in Kewanee, the son of Gerald Wayne Miller and Elizabeth (Lindberg) Hackwith. He is survived by his significant other, Lorene Decatur, his mother, Elizabeth Hackwith, three sons: Jason, Erik and Alex, three grandchildren and his siblings, Roger, Nancy and Steve and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father and a brother, Bobby.

He had attended schools in Toulon and Neponset and then Western Illinois University. He enlisted into the United States Marine Corp in 1973 and rose to the rank of Colonel, retiring after 29½ years.