CHARLES CITY — Robert “Bob” Miller, 92, of Charles City, a longtime educator known affectionately by generations of students as “Boogie Bob,” died Monday, August 17, 2026, at the 11th Street Chautauqua Guest Home in Charles City.
A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Friday, August 21, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Charles City, with Erik Hoefer officiating. Visitation was held for one hour before the service at the church.
Bob will be laid to rest during a private burial at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City.
Robert Dean Miller was born June 19, 1934, in Afton, Iowa, to Coy and Gwendolyn (Frazier) Miller. He graduated from Truro High School in 1952 before earning a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University and later a master’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa.
Following college, Bob served in the Iowa National Guard. He married Marilyn Westendorf on July 17, 1960, in Mason City, beginning a marriage that would span 66 years.
Education became one of the defining parts of Bob’s life.
Over a teaching career lasting more than four decades, he worked at Alden High School from 1956 to 1960, Postville High School from 1960 to 1964 and Charles City High School from 1964 until his retirement in 1996.
Known to students as “Boogie Bob,” he taught a wide range of subjects, including industrial technology, electronics, automotive courses and history. During the summers, he also taught driver’s education.
His teaching did not stop at the classroom door. Bob also instructed snowmobile safety and gun safety courses, sharing his knowledge with young people and community members beyond the school system.
Bob remained active in numerous organizations over the years. He was involved with the Elks Lodge, Kiwanis Club and Truro Masonic Temple and was a lifetime member of the National Education Association. He also served for many years on the board of the ISEA Credit Union.
Away from work, Bob enjoyed fishing, hunting and shooting.
He and Marilyn also shared a love of travel and adventure. Together they took cruises and train trips, traveled throughout Mexico, Kenya and Egypt and made road trips that eventually took them to 49 states.
Bob is survived by his wife of 66 years, Marilyn Miller; son Kip Miller; grandchildren Kimberly “Kimber” (Jeff) Fuhrman-Miller and Alexander Miller, along with their mother, Christine Miller; daughter Leah (Quinn) Weber; and grandchildren Christian (Cassidy) Weber and Jared (Dr. Sonja Gilbertson) Weber.
He is also survived by great-grandchildren Rowan and Dylan.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Coy and Gwen Miller, and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Betty and Stan Block.
HAUSER WEISHAAR FUNERAL HOME is handling arrangements. To read more and see the full obituary, please click here.
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