Mr. Karl Von Miller's Obituary
Karl Von Miller, age 66, of Pine, Louisiana, entered the Kingdom of Heaven to be with his Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, after a lengthy battle with pulmonary fibrosis and frontotemporal
dementia. Born May 5, 1958, in New Orleans, Louisiana, he was of German descent and the middle son
of three children to Arnold Edward Miller, a former Merchant Marine and later truck driver for Red Ball,
and Bertha Mae Miller (nee Freeman), a hairdresser at Carolyn’s Beauty Shop in Bogalusa, LA. He was a
long-time resident of Pine, LA and a member of First Baptist Church in Franklinton, LA.
Mr. Miller would often reminisce and regale those around him with tales of playing trombone while
being mentored by members of Nicky’s Jazz Band, learning the value of hard work by sweeping for a
glass shop, shining shoes, hopping buses and street cars, catching turtles in bayou St. John, roller skating
in the fire station on Jefferson Davis Street, riding his bike around the city, watching parades, and
making countless memories with family and friends around his parent’s small shot-gun style home on
Baudin Street during the first 13 years of his life in his beloved New Orleans.
Looking for more elbow room and a quieter life to raise a family, his parents moved to Bogalusa,
Louisiana during Karl’s junior high years. With his vibrant personality and inability to ever meet a
stranger, Karl quickly acclimated to his new hometown making friendships and memories he cherished
for the rest of his life. He always looked back fondly on his time canoeing and winning races in Explorer
Post 313, playing trombone in the Bogalusa High School Lumberjack Marching Band, being selected as
first chair in the District IV Honor Band, performing in the Louisiana All-Star Band, and playing roles with
the Patchwork Players and the Mill Town Players. Upon his graduation from Bogalusa High School in
1977, Karl continued his education at Sullivan Vocational College.
He then embarked on a professional career in retail management that spanned over 34 years working
for Winn-Dixie and Wal-Mart Supercenters, where he enjoyed meeting community members and
became known for his generosity and desire to help anyone in need. It was during this time that he
would also meet the love of his life. By hijacking a coworker’s phone call, he invited the kind unknown
girl on the other end on a blind date. After one date to the Washington Parish Free Fair, he was
enamored, and even during the final days of his life, he would reassure his bride that she was the love of
his life. While frontotemporal dementia would take away many facets of himself, he was always able to
hold tightly to his love of family and his strong faith in God.
His love of family, music, vivacity for life, generous spirit, and devout faith is cherished by his devoted
wife of 43 years, Brenda Leigh (nee Duncan) Miller, daughter LeAnne Michelle Snow (Brad Snow) of
Nixa, Missouri, son Kevin Michael Miller (Anna Miller) of Hammond, Louisiana, sister Patricia “Patsy”
Flynn (James “Jimmy” Flynn); seven wonderful grandchildren Presleigh Charlene Miller, Brett Austin
Snow, Cannon Michael Miller, Caroline BreAnne Snow, Mason Nolan Miller, Adalynn Christine Miller,
and Nathan Gregory Miller, numerous nieces and nephews, as well as many other family members and
friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arnold and Bertha Miller, his brother, Kurt Edward
Miller, and nephew Eric Miller.
Visitation will be held on Friday, July 19 th at Brown-McGehee Funeral Home between 5-9 pm for the
public and will resume Saturday, July 20 th at 9 am. Services will start at 11am at Brown-McGehee Funeral
Home and will be conducted by Mr. Miller’s brother-in-law, Brother Jerry Duncan, with interment
immediately following at Pine Community Cemetery. Pall bearers include Kevin Miller, Brad Snow, Jeff
Duncan, Jimmy Duncan, John Terrell, and Shermit Ellis.
Donations in Karl’s memory can be made to fund research by The Association for Frontotemporal
Degeneration (https://www.theaftd.org/).
What’s your fondest memory of Karl?
What’s a lesson you learned from Karl?
Share a story where Karl's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Karl you’ll never forget.
How did Karl make you smile?