Melissa S. Miller

Melissa Miller passed peacefully on January 27, 2025 after a short battle against oral cancer. She lost the ability to speak and eat, but never lost her love of life - fighting so hard to continue to be here with us all. 

Melissa is survived by her brother, Scott (Mona), who properly teased and tormented his little sister as a child, and her sister, Kristine (Anthony Thorne-Booth), who was properly annoyed with her little sister as a child. But as they all grew to adulthood and lived in different parts of the country there was no stronger bond of sibling love and friendship than these three had. To be in their presence meant lots of laughter and love which was a joy and privilege to be a part of. She is also survived by her nephews, Alexander of Los Angeles and Zachary (Grete) of San Diego, and her niece, Kenna of Milwaukee. Their holidays and big life events always included their “Auntie M” whom they adored. Melissa is also survived by her boyfriend, Jeff, who brought her much happiness, love and companionship for almost 10 years. 

Melissa was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Betty Miller, and both sets of grandparents.

While a lot of us have a smaller circle of friends, Melissa’s network of friends is vast, spanning decades of lifelong relationships spanning the country, with new friends added to her circle every year. She made friends throughout her life, whether they were co-workers, clients, customers, school pals, employees, supervisors, or a random person she just happened to meet on an Amtrak to Chicago. Her circle is huge. 

Besides her family and friends, Melissa loved concerts, traveling, sporting events, and festivals. She loved her Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, and from her time in New York City, the New York Rangers. Her musical tastes varied from The Beatles to Pat McCurdy to the Freistadt Alte Kameraden German Brass Band. She was a “super fan” of them all, even traveling to Europe a few years ago with the brass band! Melissa rarely if ever missed a La Crosse Oktoberfest. It meant gathering with lifetime and new friends every year at some of her favorite establishments, and leading the party at her favorite street view of the Maple Leaf Parade.

Melissa also had a servant's heart. She volunteered for many organizations over the years in the various cities in which she had lived. Most recently she participated in “Steppin’ Out in Pink” with a team from New Castle Title benefiting the Gundersen Medical Foundation. 

Melissa’s favorite claim to fame was that she was Little Miss Sunbeam as a child on the Sunbeam Bread float in various parades around the La Crosse area. As a result, she was an avid collector of Little Miss Sunbeam memorabilia. 

Melissa will always be remembered for her beauty and her style but it’s her never-ending kindness, laughter, joy of life, that we will carry with us forever. 

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 7, 2025 at Schumacher - Kish Funeral & Cremation Services, 200 West Ave. S., La Crosse. Rev. Dr. Laura Wright will officiate. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 10 AM until the time of service.

The family requests donations be made in memory of Melissa to the New Castle Title “Steppin’ Out in Pink” team. Checks can be made out to “Steppin’ Out in Pink” and mailed to New Castle Title, 750 3rd St N, Suite B, La Crosse, WI 54601. 

Alternatively, donations can be made online to the Gundersen Medical Foundation. The link is below. In the drop down section to direct gift, select breast cancer fund and as a tribute to Melissa. It will then go to the New Castle Team in her memory. 

Gundersen Medical Foundation