DENNIS GRANT MILLER

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DENNIS GRANT MILLER After a long and fulfilling life, enriched by travel and time spent with family and his many friends around the world, Dennis died peacefully at home on June 27, 2015. Dennis is survived by his loving wife, Eva, with whom he shared his passion for travel and adventure. Together with his first wife, Glenna, he raised three children, who along with their families will remember him with love and miss him greatly: Lori and her husband, Ron, and children, Alenna and Grant; Jeff and his wife, Marlis, and; Scott and his wife, Janet, and children, Cassidy and Kirsten. Younger sister, Myrna, and her husband, Harley, and their family will cherish his memory. Born in Winnipeg on September 15, 1934, Dennis graduated from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Training Academy in 1953. He spent most of his career proudly serving small communities in Manitoba, retiring in 1978. Retirement from the RCMP presented an opportunity for Dennis to try his hand in a number of different roles. Whether he was providing security and chauffeur services for the Norwegian ambassador to Canada, managing a line at a Canada Post sorting station, heading up security at one of the largest hotels in Toronto, keeping the "wildlife" under control as a warden at Rideau River Provincial Park, or keeping children safe while driving a school bus, Dennis approached every new challenge with the same vigour and dedication. But for Dennis, nothing would ever compare with his time as a Mountie. Full retirement meant more time to travel, a taste for which Dennis passed on to his children through their many family vacations to Florida and the Caribbean, and to his grandchildren, who are the proud owners of one of the biggest collections of "I heart ..." t-shirts in the world. For the first few years, home was a luxurious fifth-wheel trailer that alternated between the RCMP campground on the Rideau River outside of Ottawa and state parks in Florida, where in return for volunteering their time, he and Eva could set up camp for free - a perfect arrangement for someone who loved to putter almost as much as he appreciated a good bargain. When it came time to pack up the fifth-wheel for the final time, their winter migration took a more westerly route to the "Big Island" of Hawaii and Volcano National Park, where they quickly became part of the local community and would return for several years. Freighter cruises also became part of their travel repertoire, taking them to all corners of the world and further expanding their circle of friends. But among the many places he visited, there were two constants in Dennis' travel itinerary. One of them was Florida, where he and Eva could be found every year with their friends and fellow baseball fans, cheering on the Blue Jays during spring training. The other was the family cottage at Bird Lake, which Dennis helped his father build and where he was most in his element. It was also where, at the end of every day spent felling trees, repairing the pump, or towing the grandkids behind the boat, you would find him in the sun room enjoying a Bacardi dark rum and coke - in a big glass, with lots of ice... Dennis' life will be celebrated at a memorial service on Thursday, July 2, 1:00 p.m., ANAVETS, 3584 Portage Ave., Winnipeg. Those who wish to, can make donations in Dennis' memory to Children's Wish Foundation, or to another charity of their choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 30, 2015