Clifford A Miller

MADISON - Cliff Miller died on Sept. 24, 2024. An award-winning newspaper journalist, and graduate of UW-Madison, Cliff covered state and local politics for more than 40 years.

Cliff started his career, in Wausau, WI, at the Wausau Daily Record-Herald as photojournalist. This is where he and wife, Alice made their first home with young daughters, Laura and Leslie. Soon after, they relocated to the Fox Valley, where Cliff reported local and state politics for the Appleton Post Crescent and Green Bay Press Gazette. In 1973, Cliff earned a national journalism fellowship to serve as legislative aide to Senators Morris K. ("Mo") Udall, D-AZ, and Hubert H. Humphrey, Jr., D-MN. After a whirlwind year spent exploring Washington DC, Cliff moved the family to Madison, WI, where he spent the remainder of his career heading up the Madison News Bureau of the Appleton Post-Crescent and Green Bay Press Gazette.

Throughout his life in Madison, Cliff freelanced for Madison Magazine and Isthmus Magazine. He was a panelist on local political broadcasts, covering upcoming elections. He served on various boards and committees around the state. And, he helped coordinate the Madison Jazz Society's annual Jazz Festival.

Cliff loved camping with his family. Together, they explored parks in Colorado, the Bad Lands, Niagara Falls, Florida, and Wisconsin. After "his girls" were grown, Cliff enjoyed making special memories with his grandchildren. And, he loved hearing about his great- grandchildren.

In 1987, Cliff and Alice moved to Cottage Grove, WI, where they shared 30 years, restoring their abandoned house and surrounding 22 acres. There, on "Miller's Meadow," Cliff dabbled in growing trees and vegetables. He built an in-ground pool. And, he marveled as Alice surrounded their prairie landscape with breathtaking waterfalls, ponds, rose gardens and perennial flowers. These flowers became a favorite hobby for Cliff as he spent hours photographing them.

Cliff adored hosting holidays and 4th of July pool parties. He looked forward to Sunday service at Messiah Lutheran Church, with pastor, Jeff Vanden Heuvel. And, he rarely missed his Friday lunch bunch at The Avenue Bar with fellow "Has-beens."

Professionally, Cliff will be remembered for reporting the news ethically, objectively, fairly, and with unmatched respect toward those he interviewed.

Personally, we will cherish Cliff's insatiable curiosity, his dry wit, his unconditional love of family, cats, sports cars, his faith; and, of course, jazz, beer and Prairie Home Companion.

Without question, Cliff's greatest love was his wife of almost 60 years, Alice, who died in 2021. Cliff is survived by his daughters, Laura Kronser (Jeff) and Leslie VanHierden (Mark): Kronser grandchildren, Chelsae VanCalligan (Peter), Corey, Jaclyn Berg (Nick), Jameson (Jess), and Kaeden; along with 15 great-grandchildren; and, "one-of-a-kind" grandson, Dillon VanHierden. Cliff is also survived by his brother, Bruce (Gail); and sister, Kathy Holinbeck (Paul); and, lifelong friends, Peter and Jeanne Beckley, and Lynn and Steve Coffeen. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick and Helen Miller.

A funeral service will be held at ALL SAINTS LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2951 Chapel Valley Road, Fitchburg, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. A celebration of life and 85th Birthday will follow at GREAT DANE PUB AND BREWING COMPANY, 2980 Cahill Main, Fitchburg, until 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Special thanks to Abby and Emma and the staff of Brighton Hospice for their loving care of Clifford. We especially thank Anne Marie Swanson for her devoted spiritual guidance throughout the final years of Clifford's life.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Fitchburg

Funeral & Cremation Care

2950 Chapel Valley Road

(608) 442-5002