McHenry County Board candidate Miller dies, daughter carries on in politics

Kenneth Miller's list of goals and accomplishments seemed never-ending to his daughter, Dominique Miller.

He was a marathoner, avid animal lover, devoted father and a hardworking man, she said. He was also a Democratic candidate seeking a District 3 seat on the McHenry County Board.

Miller, 68, died Friday of a heart-related illness, Dominique Miller said. Typically, she said, her dad was still running his campaign from the hospital in his final days.

It's no accident then, that Dominique Miller is running for McHenry County Board in adjacent District 2: Her father taught her about politics, prepared her for life and encouraged her to run for an elected position.

"He was pretty loved and respected by everyone," she said. "He would've made a great board member."

The Democratic Party of McHenry County has chosen Kathleen Bergan Schmidt to replace Miller on the Nov. 8 ballot, party chairman Michael Bissett said. She was first elected to the county board in 2008 and lost her bid for re-election in 2012.

Bissett also said Kenneth Miller was a family man, a public servant and an excellent candidate.

"He would've been an honest, thoughtful and hard working board member," he said. "We will all miss him very much."

For decades, Miller worked as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service and served as president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, where he was later appointed a regional administrative assistant.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, his mother, his sister and daughter Dominique.

Services will begin with at 10 a.m. Thursday at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake. A burial will follow at Windridge Memorial Park in Cary.