By Jean Doran Matua, Editor
Duane Miller is a shining example of how a lifetime of hard work toward specific goals can lead to both success and happiness. Today, at 69, Miller still has a list of goals he’s working on. Most importantly, though, he has learned that happiness comes not from acquired things, but from relationships and experiences enjoyed along life’s way.
Miller was selected by the Watkins Fire Department to be this year’s Kraut N Wurst grand marshal. In this role, his primary job is to ride through the parade Saturday morning.
But there’s a good reason Miller is grand marshal. Back in the early days of the Kraut N Wurst festival, it was the local chamber of commerce that ran the small event each year. As happens so often in small towns, the energy that launched the festival 41 years ago was dwindling. Miller, as Chief of the Watkins Fire Department at the time, is responsible for the fire department taking over sponsorship of the festival which continues today (with the help of a core of great volunteers).
In its first year, Miller says, Kraut N Wurst took in about $2,500 in food sales. Now it’s more like $50,000 each year. Miller has been among those working the hamburger and beer stands each year. More than likely, he’ll be back behind the counter Saturday as soon as the parade is over. “That’s the fun part,” Miller says, speaking fondly of the 30-40 regulars who crew the food stands each year.
Now retired, Miller was a volunteer firefighter with the Watkins Fire Department for 32 years, of which he was Chief for six years or so.
Miller built the fertilizer plant in Watkins and ran it for 25 years, including several years with his father, before selling it. He loved this job, and he still knows and gets along with most of the farmers in the area. He’s had a few other business interests since selling it, but he’s been officially retired for seven years now.
“I’ve enjoyed retirement,” Miller says; “I’m busier now in retirement than before.” He recently built his dream retirement house – totally energy self-sufficient with solar panels – on a piece of land he owns near Ostmark Lutheran Church southwest of Watkins, about three miles from where his great-grandfather homesteaded in North Kingston. He rents out the land, but he still helps various farmers in the area when needed.
He is an avid hunter and fisherman, and has been flying small planes for about 40 years. He has a Cesna four-seater plane based in Litchfield, and recently completed assembly of a two-seater experimental kit plane.
Miller has five children who seem to be continuing his hard-work ethic: four daughters who are all in various health care careers, and a son who is a solar energy engineer. He has 11 grandchildren. His long-time girlfriend Kim Hansen has two sons and is awaiting the arrival of her first grandchild. (The baby shower is scheduled for the same time as the Kraut N Wurst parade, so that’s why Hansen won’t be riding with Miller that morning.)
Miller now heads south each winter. More than 20 years ago, a good friend made him an offer he just couldn’t refuse: he bought two tiny islands in the Caribbean Sea, 6 1/2 miles offshore of Belize, for about the price of a new pickup truck at the time. There was nothing on the islands then, and they have gradually built it up to a comfortable and relaxing spot. In Fall 2019, Miller and Hansen left for their winter in Belize … and then COVID-19 hit the world that winter. They ended up spending 18 months on their islands, boating into the village about once every three weeks for supplies, while family took care of the home place here in Minnesota.
The larger of the two islands is not much bigger than a football field. Today they enjoy modern amenities: full off-grid electrical service with solar panels, refrigeration, wi-fi, television, great cell service, and American-style beds and bathrooms. They built six cabanas for guests, and a local family lives on the islands to help year-round. Local tour guides stop by nearly every day with groups to snorkel for their lunch, then barbecue their catch for a nice picnic before resuming their tours.
Miller and Hansen have developed a close group of friends, other expats, who get together each year for Christmas and Easter in Belize. Miller is renowned for bringing lobster and his homemade buns.
Everyone is invited to “come look us up in Belize,” says Miller. It’s very relaxing, he says, and the people are very friendly. You can connect with Miller or Hansen by Facebook, or through any of their children to set up an island visit.
Miller has a degree in agricultural education from the University of Minnesota. This served him well when he ran the fertilizer plant, and during the times he home-schooled some of his five children. He also puts it to good use in Belize, helping to bring increased productivity through mechanized agriculture to an area that still relies heavily on hand-farming.
At the top of his bucket list, though, is getting licensed to fly the Kit Fox experimental plane he recently finished. He planned to spend this past week at the Experimental Airplane Association AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisc., connecting with other pilots and aficionadoes who can help him reach this next goal.
Miller will ride in a 1930 Ford Model A owned and restored by Hansen’s sister-in-law. Be sure to wave and cheer during the parade. And then stop by the burger stand for a couple baskets of burgers and fries.