WINONA LAKE – As hundreds of people poured into the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center Friday for the public memorial service for Dr. Dane Miller, photos of the Biomet co-founder’s life flashed on the big screens in the gym. The photos captured meetings between Miller and former presidents and governors, but also intimate moments with family, friends and past employees. There were black and white pictures of Miller as a baby, his wedding day with Mary Louise and family portraits with his daughters and grandchildren. Before the service began, attendees reminisced with each other about Miller and how he would be a “hard act to follow.” Miller died Feb. 10 at age 69. Grace College & Seminary President Dr. William J. Katip began the service by welcoming everyone to the OCC on behalf of the Miller family and Grace. He also recognized public officials attending the service including Indiana Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann, U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski and State Rep. Dave Wolkins. Katip said it was encouraging to the family to see so many Biomet surgeons, team members and “nearly the entire local Biomet family” at the service. He also welcomed representatives from Kettering University and the University of Cincinnati. “We know that many of you traveled quite a distance to be here today – thank you,” Katip said. He also welcomed the “scores and scores” of Winona Lake and Warsaw residents in attendance. Katip quoted from the Book of James in the Bible about putting faith into action. “‘Someone will say you have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without works and I’ll show you my faith by my works,’” Katip quoted from the Bible. “Dane Miller embodied what James taught us. He put his faith into actions. Whether it was business or engineering, community or caring for the physical needs of people, it was always about others.” Katip then led everyone in prayer before images of Miller were shown. After the video, Purdue University President and former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels spoke. “When I saw the program for today, I thought it was perfect. Everyone listed here was listed as a friend,” Daniels said. It was hard, if not impossible, to not be Miller’s friend once you met him, Daniels said. The term “servant leader” has become cheapened by its overuse, Daniels said, but it fits Miller. Everything Miller did wasn’t about himself, but about the company, his family, the state, the nation or the Village at Winona. The phrase “corporate citizen” is not so much overused as misused, Daniels said, but Miller deserved that term if anyone ever did. He personified it by creating success for others. “All my days I will be immensely proud to count myself as a friend of Dane Miller’s,” Daniels later stated. U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman said so much could be said about Miller. He said he admired Miller long before he met him and it was an honor to call him friend. Stutzman said Miller was so gracious to him and his family, and Miller not only loved his community but also people. “As we saw in the photos, all he experienced in his life, he led a life of example to many of us,” Stutzman said. He quoted Proverbs 16:20, which he said described Miller well. “He was a very wise man. When he spoke, I knew I wanted to listen. To know that type of person should inspire all of us to do better,” Stutzman said. He also said Miller was constantly giving of his time, talent and treasure. He described Miller as humble, loyal and appreciative of history. “I can’t think of a man who loved his country more,” Stutzman recalled. University of Alabama Birmingham University System Professor Jack Lemons said Miller was known and respected in academic circles. But opposed to others who only talked about things, Lemons said Miller was a man of action. Lemons then cut off his tie as Miller was known to have done of others’ neckties. In a brief comment to Miller’s family, Lemons said, “You were the bright beacons in his life.” Dr. Cheryl Blanchard, former chief scientific officer at Zimmer, founding board chair of OrthoWorx and Microchips Bioetch CEO, said Miller’s life was one to celebrate. So much of what he accomplished benefitted others, she said. “He was so many things to many people, including a friend to me,” she said. She said she was blessed to work with him over the years on important orthopedic and community issues. He had tenacious visions, she said, and built a company that valued community and family. Before Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer spoke, Lindsay Slocum, Amy Delp and Ann Goebel sang “Let There Be Peace On Earth.” Thallemer said Miller was someone who, within the first five minutes of meeting, made you feel like you met a new friend. “The warmth and sincerity he displayed to friends transcended into the love for his community,” Thallemer said. He also said, “Dr. Dane Miller gave our community his time and energy to create working solutions through his examples of leadership, support and empowerment. Dr. Dane Miller, by his philanthropy, has set an example with generosity of time, talent and treasure to create community synergy.” Former Grace College President Dr. Ronald E. Manahan read a letter he sent to Miller shortly before Miller’s passing, but the letter was too late. The letter indicated how much he admired Dr. Dane and Mary Louise Miller. It said Miller’s example shows what it means to be a true citizen of the community. Retired Lake City Bank Director Jean Northenor told funny stories about her friendship with Miller, as Mary Louise requested. She said she picked on him unmercifully, and he returned the favor. “We will never know how many lives Dane touched, but I know Dane touched my family in I can’t say how many ways,” Northenor said. Wearing a Dane Miller T-shirt, Biomet Inc. Senior Vice President, Business Development, Dan Hann said he loved Dane and missed him terribly. He talked about the love Dane and Mary Louise had for each other, and that Dane never met a stranger. Hann discussed Miller’s “flaws,” including that he could never fire anyone, he told bad jokes and he was an incurable optimist. Biomet former Senior Executive Greg Sasso then hugged Hann and Hann cut Sasso’s necktie. Sasso called Miller everything from a hero and icon to humble and honest. He spoke about how much Miller loved his community and how people should keep Miller’s legacy alive by sharing stories of him. Recording artist Levi John sang two songs, and St. Anne’s Episcopal Church Priest Corinne Hodges finished the service with a brief sermon and prayer. McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
