Paul F. Miller was born July 9, 1934, in Nashville, KS to Fredrick and Elizabeth (Arensdorf) Miller. In 1952, he graduated from Zenda Hight School in Zenda, KS. He was the first in his family to attend and graduate from high school. After graduating he helped on the family farm and started his own construction business with homes and rural buildings being his specialty. On August 6, 1966, he married Linda J. Snodgrass in Willowdale, KS.
In 1972, Paul began work for Kansas Wildlife and Parks as a Game Warden initially serving Pratt, Barber and Kiowa counties. However, he soon relocated to the Manhattan area in spring 1973 where he was assigned to Riley County. He worked as a Game Warden for 10 years before he became the assistant supervisor in Law Enforcement for the Kanas Northeast region. In 1991 Paul became the Manager of Tuttle Creek State Park in Manhattan, KS and held that position until his retirement. During this time, he was instrumental in the rebuilding of the State Park after the devastating flood of 1993. Additionally, Paul was responsible for contracting the ‘Country Stampede” that brought many to the NE Kansas Community until it moved in 2019.
In Paul’s spare time, her pursued his love of fishing and quickly became Manhattan’s best-known fishman. His reputation grew around Northeast Kansas, not only for his knowledge, but for his willingness to share it with those inquiring about where the fish were biting. However, he never shared his “honey-hole.” He was known for saying that “fishing is great, but the catching varies a lot.” He truly believed he had the perfect job as it allowed him time to fish.
Paul retired from Kansas Wildlife and Parks in April 1997 and started a successful fishing guide business, mainly in the “triangle lakes” as he called them – Tuttle Creek, Milford and Council Grove. He guided professionally for 20 years until his health showed him down. He continued to enjoy visiting with folks at coffee and church, and really anyone, and usually the conversation turned to the outdoors.
Throughout his lifetime, Paul shared this love of the outdoors by serving in leadership positions and as an educator for many organizations, including: Outdoor Writers of Kansas (President), Outdoor Writers of America (Member), Riley County Fish and Game (President and lifetime member), Kansas Association of Public Employees (Member), Kansas Peace Officers Association (Member), Tuttle Creek Lake Association (President and Founder), Youth Fishing Clinic (Founder) and Knights of Columbus (4th Degree and lifetime member). Paul also provided countless seminars to the public including his “Hunting Kansas Walleye” series, Outdoor Woman classes and Hunter Safety classes. He taught “Kansas Wildlife Laws” at Kansas State University and at Fort Hays State University. However, Paul was most known for his award-winning outdoor talk show on KMAN and his weekly column in the Manhattan Mercury for many years. Of all these accomplishments, Paul was most proud of his family and all their accomplishments. He enjoyed the times with his grandsons where he could pass along his knowledge and enthusiasm of the outdoors, or just life in general. Paul was a natural educator.
Paul is survived by his daughters, Connie Miller (Tami Killham) of Manhattan, KS and Dana Choate (Joshua) of Manhattan, KS, grandsons Zephry Killman (Hannah) Manhattan, KS, Dylan Choate and Jarrod Choate Irving, TX and great-grandchildren McKesson and Marney Killham, Manhattan, KS, sisters, Mary Miller of Wichita, KS, Jeanette Gaider of Pratt, KS, as well as many nieces and nephews. His wife (Linda) and parents preceded Paul in death as well as his brother Joseph Miller and sisters Adeline Green and Joan Smith.
The family will greet friends during a visitation on Thursday July 25, 2024 from 5:30 until 7:00p.m. at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday July 26, 2024 at the St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Manhattan.
Graveside services will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday July 27, 2024 at the St. Peter’s Cemetery in Willowdale, Kansas.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Tuttle Creek Lake Association for the advancement of the Youth Fishing Clinic. Contributions may be sent in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.