Gene Allen Miller, 80 years old, passed away in Madison, Wisconsin, on August 3, 2026 surrounded by his beloved family.

Gene was born in Valparaiso, Indiana on February 17, 1946 to parents George and Ethel Miller. He talked fondly of his childhood: helping to build and spending time at his family’s log cabin in northern Wisconsin, working on his relative’s dairy farm, and adventuring with his beloved dog, Tina, who was named unofficial mascot of his high school and featured in his yearbook. He attended Indiana University and played soccer before graduating and beginning a life of exploration and teaching.

Gene was a man of many talents who ventured down numerous paths throughout his life. He studied Zoology in graduate school at Indiana University, focusing on amphibians. This led to travels in Brazil, Suriname, and Guyana, where he chased frogs and lived with the Wai-Wai Indians. His interest in ecology then led him to the University of Michigan and Costa Rica, where he fell in love with every aspect of the country, including a saucy British woman — also a research zoologist — who would become his partner in life. He shared his adoration for Costa Rica with his daughters and grandchildren, who have had the privilege of revisiting his favorite places there over the years.

To put his partner through medical school, Gene loaded aircraft cargo, worked as a flight instructor, dabbled in financial planning, and assisted in the Division of Fishes at the University of Michigan. Arguably his most significant, most challenging, season was staying at home to care for his two daughters during the 80s and 90s, when being a stay-at-home dad defied the gender stereotypes of the time. His daughters are forever grateful for his care and still think boiled potatoes and creamed corn is a perfectly acceptable meal.

Those who knew Gene were in awe of his ability to become an expert on any subject he found interesting and then to masterfully teach that subject to others. As an adult, he studied philosophy at the University of Wisconsin and audited classes in limnology, parasitology, virology, logic, and human physiology well into his 70s. His mother-in-law, an Egyptologist, inspired Gene to learn all there was to know about ancient Egypt, including how to read and write hieroglyphics. This led him to become an instructor at Beloit College, where he taught ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and philosophy of science, and guided several academic tours to Egypt. His enthusiasm was unparalleled and he cared deeply about his students.

Gene was also an avid angler. Whether it was fly fishing, casting into that perfect patch of lily pads from a boat, drilling holes through the ice, or catching monster walleyes in Canada, he loved it all. As a natural teacher, Gene also loved sharing his knowledge of fishing with his friends and family. On the day before his passing, he made sure his grandson received the new fishing pole he had carefully chosen for him.

Gene spent much of his life at the family cabin. When he was not working on the next project (there was always a next project), he enjoyed sitting on the porch listening to the birds and watching the beavers and loons swim by. He loved ‘deer rides’, teaching his children how to drive on the back roads, and most recently watching his four grandchildren play and swim in the lake.

Gene was a devoted friend, father, and husband with an intensely interesting mind, a punny sense of humor, and heart full of kindness and passion for politics and social justice. He was known by many for his colorful language, his dedication to proper grammar — which his daughters found profoundly irritating — and an ability to scientifically name most species of plant, insect, amphibian, or reptile. He enjoyed a good magic trick and playing a game of cribbage by a wood burning fire. He was massively in love with his wife, Jenny, of 49 years and although he complained, he supported and even encouraged her animal obsession — from horses, dogs, and cats to chinchillas, chameleons, poison dart frogs, and most recently chickens. We all knew he loved them too.

Gene is preceded in death by his mother (Ethel), father (George), mother-in-law (Peggy), and father-in-law (Campbell). He is survived by his spitfire wife (Jenny), daughters (Liz and Laura) of whom he was immensely proud of, and sons-in-law (Chris and Joe), who were like his sons. He will be forever missed by his grandchildren (Oliver, Laila, Louise, and Fritz), who loved their Baba enormously, sister- and brother-in-law (Laila and Bruce), nieces (Kate and Jenny), nephew-in-law (Chris) and great-nephew (Robyn). His dogs, Forrest and Sadie, one-eyed cat, Jeremy, the chickens, and a slew of frogs and lizards are also heartbroken, but have promised to keep Jenny company.

A private burial is planned August 10, 2026 at Linda and Gene Farley Center for Peace, Justice and Sustainability with a Celebration of Life in the near future.  Please share a memory of Gene.

 In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to : St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a local food pantry or local shelter.

Gene/Dad, we love you. Fly high and always keep the line tight. We’ll be seeing ya.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Rd    Madison

608-238-3434