ALEXANDER EDWARD
GYLES MILLER

With broken hearts, we announce our beloved Alex passed away suddenly on January 28, 2023 in Selkirk General Hospital at the age of 38 years.

Alex is survived by his wife, the love of his life and soulmate, Katie, and two-year-old daughter Mackenzie who was his pride and joy. Alex is also survived by his parents, Brent and Pat; brothers, Steve (Jett) and Tom (Brenna); sister Lisa; his father-in-law, Roy; mother-in-law, Carole; brother-in-law Ashley (Stacey); sister-in-law Megan; nephews and nieces, Jake, Molly, Ryerson, Rome, Layla, Hudson, and Lennon; and his grandfather, Cedric. Alex was predeceased by his grandparents, George, Janet and Barbara. Alex will also be missed by his aunts, uncles, and cousins as well as many, many friends and his cherished animals.

Alex grew up in Charleswood and was usually found with his brothers and neighbourhood kids on Woodfield Bay playing street hockey, kick the can or backyard football. Alex attended Pacific Junction School, Charleswood Junior High, Oak Park High School and attended Red River College graduating with a Business Administration diploma.

Alex was athletic, receiving awards for sailing, volleyball, track, badminton and basketball. He enjoyed pitching for the recreational baseball team, “the Wood”, for many years.  Alex also loved to play football.  ‘Amill’ was a member of numerous championship teams with the Charleswood Broncos, Oak Park Raiders and the St. James Rods football clubs. Being the middle brother, his parents and sister loved watching Alex have multiple seasons sharing the field with one of his brothers.  Alex was introduced to skiing at an early age, but later came to love snowboarding more and hit the slopes as often as he could.  He spent one winter working at Panorama Mountain Resort in BC and another working at Blue Mountains in Ontario staying with his grandparents to optimize his enjoyment of the sport.

Growing up, Alex spent part of his summers in Toronto with his grandparents Barb and Ced sailing at the RCYC while making memories with his grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.

Alex loved going to the family cabin at Lac du Bonnet. He loved sharing this space with his family, friends and later, Katie, and then Mackenzie. His passion for fishing flourished in adulthood netting him numerous master anglers while commandeering the cabin’s trusty (yet leaky) boat he affectionately named ‘Tin E. Boat’ or Tinnie for short.

The love for fishing and the outdoors continued for all of Alex’s life, from a yearly fly-in fishing trip in the summer to ice fishing adventures in the winter and lots of boat rides and dockside fishes with friends in between. Alex could fillet a fish like a pro and loved to cook his catch for his family. Alex also enjoyed hunting, growing his own food, and relaxing afterwards by a campfire, at home by the wood stove or outdoors in the wilderness.

Alex met his wife Katie while they both worked at Santa Lucia Pizza. They had an instant connection and quickly became inseparable.

Within one year they were living together in their first home on a five acre property just outside the city. This is where Alex dove into the country lifestyle, keeping horses, raising chickens and gardening. After five years they moved to a new house on sixty acres in Libau where Alex and Katie had even more room for country adventures that included riding horses, shooting clay pigeons, hosting big holiday celebrations and further expanding their animal family.

Alex’s love of adventure and outdoors expanded beyond Manitoba, exploring rainforests, pyramids, caves, oceans, and castles while traveling to Belize, Hawaii, Scotland, Paris, California, Mexico, and Florida. Everywhere they travelled, Katie could count on Alex to find a good beer and make friends along the way. Travel, like life, was more fun with Alex.

In September 2014, Alex surprised everyone by eloping with Katie in Scotland. They married at Loch Lomond and then explored Scotland from the highlands to the lowlands as newlyweds. After their trip, family and friends celebrated their nuptials at a “hoe-down” with all the animals included in their back yard.

The greatest adventure Alex and Katie enjoyed together was their daughter, Mackenzie. Alex was a loving, patient, fun and hands-on Dad and there is nothing he wouldn’t do for his little girl. He took her to the Peppa Pig theme park and Disney World. On the farm Mackenzie was always by Alex’s side to collect eggs from the chickens and at the lake he would show her how he fished from the dock. Mackenzie loved every moment with her daddy who brought out her silly side and was always making her laugh.

Alex was always learning which was perfect for the city boy turned country.  The skills he developed made him a true jack of all trades. He was just as good with a tool as he was taking care of his animal family or baking a loaf of bread.

Alex was very resourceful and could find a solution for anything. Often, the solution was being able to build anything with his hands. His fingerprints can be seen in the homes of friends and families all over, as he was always ready to lend his expertise with a “blue” job.

Katie and Mackenzie will forever feel Alex’s presence in their home where he was always working to make life better for his family. Alex built their beautiful kitchen where so many memories were made, a spa bath for Katie and a custom playhouse for Mackenzie. Nothing was impossible or out of the question for his family. 

Alex was self-employed and ran a stucco business called “Amill Stucco and Renovations” for over ten years, after learning the trade from his cousin and mentor.   As a skilled, professional and very likeable business owner, Alex enjoyed meeting new people and readily found customers through word of mouth referrals and was always busy. 

Alex, the world was a better place with you in it. You were always genuine, true and authentic.  Your patience and ability to adapt was evident as you navigated through life’s challenges.  You knew what you wanted and did what you had to achieve your goals without worry of outside persuasion.  You had such a gentle manner and were always the quiet achiever doing things your way.  We loved being with you as you always had a smile and exhibited a positive and upbeat energy.  Your quick wit and sense of humour made you so much fun to be with.  You were always kind, thoughtful and helpful making everyone wanting more of you.  You had such an easy and interesting approach to life making it easy to talk and be with you.  Alex, time spent with you was always time well spent.

It is our worst nightmare to say goodbye to you Alex. Our lives will never be the same without you and our hearts will never be whole again. We miss you, we love you and we will forever hold you close in our thoughts and hearts.

Alex’s family kindly requests that his friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour his memory by visiting his tribute page at EthicalDeathCare.com. A photo-biography, as well as memories and stories published by those who knew him, are available there.

Losing Alex is such an unbearable and tragic loss and we appreciate and thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support.  If you would like to contribute to assist in the support of Mackenzie, you can do so by sending an e-transfer to  themackenziemiller@gmail.com.

A celebration of Alex’s life will be held 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 26, 2023 at the Centro Caboto Centre, 1055 Wilkes Avenue, Winnipeg.

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I Am Gone

You can shed tears that I am gone,

Or you can smile because I lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that I will come back,

Or you can open your eyes and see all that I have left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see me

Or you can be full of the love we shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,

Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember me and only that I am gone,

Or you can cherish my memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind,

be empty and turn your back,

Or you can do what I would want: smile,

open your eyes, love and go on.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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