K. Lane Miller

K. Lane attended Joy High School and graduated in the class of 1946. He later went on to obtain his B. A. in Education from Knox College in 1950, his M. S. in Administration from Western IL University in 1953, and did post graduate work through the University of Illinois. K. Lane married Anna Belle Bear in 1950 and had 3 children.

He began his career in education as a junior high teacher in Kewanee, IL in 1950. After two years, he was asked to be the principal of Wethersfield High School also in Kewanee; garnering him the distinction of becoming the youngest high school Principal in the state of IL during that time. Six years later, he became assistant principal of the high school in Quincy, IL where he remained for five years before he was asked to move to Belleville and assume the responsibilities of Principal for Township High School, which became the original West campus, for four years. When the new Belleville East High School was born in 1966, K. Lane was named Superintendent of Belleville District #201 for Belleville East and Belleville West High Schools. He still holds the honor of being the longest serving superintendent with his eighteen years of tenure as the leader of Belleville District #201.

K. Lane Miller was highly respected as a leader in education. He was a lifetime member of the National Education Association and was a member of the Association for Secondary School Principals, and the Illinois Association of School Administrators. He was the past president of the St. Clair County Administrators, the Belleville Area Superintendent Association, and served as the chairman of the Illinois office of Education’s Advisory Council for Education of Handicapped Children and TENCO (Ten County Educational Grants). He was a member of the IL State Committee of the North Central Association that was responsible for establishing accreditation for schools and served as chairman of numerous evaluations of member schools in Illinois. He was sent to Germany for a month during 1975 to evaluate the American Dependent schools located there, and later he was asked to evaluate the schools in the Azores. He was presented with an “Award of Merit” by the educational Council of 100, Inc. in 1985 for his contribution to education.

K. Lane served his community well through the years. He was a member of the Shriner’s Organization as a Mason of the 32nd degree and was given an honorary membership of DeMolay in 1968. He was a former member and past president of the Chamber of Commerce, a lifetime member of the Downtown Optimists, and has served on numerous boards including St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and the YMCA. His extensive community involvement earned him the Distinguished Service Award from the Belleville Jaycees in 1985. During his retirement he served as President of the Illinois Retired Teachers’ Association. K. Lane was an active member of the First United Presbyterian Church taking on leadership duties and participating in missions. He was a board member and past officer of the Kinder Cottage PreSchool in East St. Louis which was supported by the church.

K. Lane was preceded in death by his loving wife, Ann. He is survived by his children, Mark (Kim) Miller of Troy, IL, Debbie (Tim) Roth of Glendale, AZ, Linda (Darrell) Michael of Swansea, IL; AFS son and family of Andreas Corsten of Switzerland; grandchildren, Brad (Dawn) Miller of Troy, IL, Kristan (Chris) Sonnenberg of Waterloo, IL, Laine (Joe) Adkins of Glendale, AZ, Nick (Jenni) Miller of Troy IL, Joseph (Chelsea) Michael of O’Fallon, IL; eleven great grandchildren; and other family and numerous friends.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2023 from 9 a.m. until time of service at 10:30 a.m. at The First United Presbyterian Church, 1303 Royal Heights Rd, Belleville, IL 62223. The committal service will follow at Valhalla Gardens of Memory.

In lieu of flowers, the Miller family asks that you make a memorial donation in K. Lane’s name to either the K. Lane Miller Scholarship Fund established for District #201 students pursuing the teaching profession, or the First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL.

The family would also like to thank the staff of Dammert Geriatric Care Center at the Shrine for the superior care given to our father.

Please express condolences at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com.

*All flower deliveries should be to the church