Journal & Topics Media Group

Community Says Goodbye To Firefighter Who ‘Lived Life To Fullest’


Purple bunting adorns Fire Station No. 61 garage along River Road in memory of Des Plaines firefighter Paul Miller. Journal photo.

Memorial visitation for Paul Miller, the Des Plaines Fire Dept. firefighter/paramedic who sustained fatal injuries in an April 21 motorcycle accident, will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 3 at Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner St., Des Plaines.

Miller, 33, was a McHenry resident and member of the Des Plaines Fire Dept. for the past six years, according to Chief Alan Wax. He also served part-time as a firefighter for the McHenry Township Fire Protection District.

It is believed that Miller and a vehicle that was turning in front of him collided while he was driving his motorcycle in Lake Zurich. A representative from the Lake Zurich Fire Dept. confirmed that Miller was injured in the accident, but did not confirm whether another vehicle was involved. Hawthorn Woods police handled the case, but officials in that town have not responded to an inquiry from the Journal & Topics.

“Paul was a firefighter who loved what he did,” said Wax, “He truly was somebody who lived life to the fullest.”

Miller’s enthusiasm and personable demeanor had a positive influence on everyone around him, Wax added.

Des Plaines firefighter and paramedic Paul Miller was pronounced dead Tuesday following a motorcycle accident in Lake Zurich April 21.

Known as “Pauly” to his family, Miller became a firefighter/paramedic at 18 and held positions with the Prospect Heights Fire District, Lincolnshire Fire Dept. and Highwood Fire Dept. before joining Des Plaines. Outside of work, he loved to travel, go snowmobiling, boating and motorcycling.

According to his obituary, last year Miller accomplished a longtime dream of building his Chevy S10 Xtreme truck into a fast street car.

After learning last Tuesday (April 23) Miller would not be able to recover from the injuries, his family decided to donate his organs per his wishes. Since then there has been an outpouring of support for Miller’s family on social media, with many changing their Facebook profile photo to honor him.

Miller is survived by his parents, Paul Sr. and Sally (nee Lange) Miller, his siblings Michelle Seaquist and Donny Miller, his nephew D.J. Miller, his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

A funeral service for Miller will be held at noon Saturday, May 4 at Oehler Funeral Home before his interment at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Arlington Heights.

His family kindly asks any written stories, memories, thoughts and photos be brought to the service to be collected and arranged into an album.

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