Don Peter Miller, born July 29, 1941, in St. Paul, MN, died at 1:50 P.M. on Friday, October 12, 2012 in Las Cruces, NM at the Mesilla Valley Hospice's La Posada. With him in his last hours was his wife of 47 years, Jane Edmands Miller, and his daughter, Cary Miller, of Grafton, WI.

Don, who was healthy as an ox for the most part of his life, learned in early April he had pleural mesothelioma. The pleurae, where Don's tumors developed, are the membranes that envelop the lungs and line the thoracic cavity. They facilitate the movement of the lungs during breathing. This is a rare form of cancer and is caused by prior exposure to asbestos. Only 2-3000 persons die from this each year. Don was an artist and was likely exposed while working with clay, plaster of paris or other art materials. There are three types of mesothelioma and it turned out Don had an aggressive form so surgery was not an option.

Don was married in 1965 to Jane Edmands Miller and they had one daughter Cary Miller adopted in 1970 at three months of age. Mats Bovin, Cary's husband, John Edmands, Jane's brother, as well as many friends and former students, will also remember Don. All who knew him will remember Don's sense of humor and hearty laughter. Yet, his focus and perfectionism was expressed in his works of art - from fibers, to printmaking, to clay, to painting, to metals Don never met a medium he didn't like. His work has been displayed nationally and internationally in cities such as Nine and Wuppertal Germany, Las Vegas, Dallas, Santa Fe, and Minneapolis. His works have appeared in text books and are also in the permanent collections of several institutions in the University of Wisconsin system, and the New Mexico Capitol Art Foundation in Santa Fe, NM among others.

Don graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1963 with a BAE (major in painting) and a MFA from Tulane University, New Orleans, 1965 (major in painting, minor in printmaking.) He then taught in the art department of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls from 1965-1996 retiring after thirty-one years of service with the rank of full professor. Don tried to reach out to all his students to help them cultivate their own personal aesthetic. He was encouraging and nurturing in his teaching which is why his students loved him so much. Don loved to be surprised by the unusual in student work and taught students to embrace this as special and unique.

Don also enjoyed spending time with his family. He loved the outdoors – Jane and Don had met as counselors at a summer camp – and preferred camping trips, travel to the Edmands family cabin in Brimley, Michigan, or excursions to places of natural beauty and historic importance. He joined hiking clubs after moving to the southwest and learned so much about the local plants that taking a walk with him was an educational experience. He was blessed to spend some of his final weeks at a cabin on the beach of Lake Michigan with his wife, daughter, and son-in-law just as he wished to. In earlier years, he made time to spend the last day of summer every year as a father-daughter day at the zoo or other place of interest until his daughter left for college. He enjoyed sharing cooking duties with the family, learning to cook Asian food from his college roommate from the Phillippines who occasionally came to stay, and for many years baking the family's bread. He often had dinner ready on the table when his wife arrived home from her out-of-town work commute.

In accordance with his wishes, Don has been cremated. No memorial service has been planned, however, you are cordially invited to join us at a Celebration and tribute to his life scheduled for Tuesday, October 16th at 2 PM in the Creative Arts room at Good Samaritan Village. Don's favorite food (white wedding cake) and refreshments will be served. A retrospective of his professional work will be on display. We would be truly honored by your presence. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in his name to Mesilla Valley Hospice, 299 E. Montana Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88005.