Jim Miller-Melberg Family History
GRANDFATHER - CLAUS MILLER
In March of 1887, Claës Reinhold Mellberg (1865-1925) made his way from Östergötland, Sweden to Glasgow, Scotland where he would board the steam ship “S.S. State of Nebraska” on a voyage to the New World. He was 21 years old and travelling alone, certainly anxious and hopeful for what awaited him. The Swedish emigration authorities had classified his occupation as “dräng” or “peasant,” so he had nowhere to go but up. On the other side of the Atlantic, Claës Reinhold Mellberg would settle in Minnesota, meet and marry Emma Ekstrom, have a long career as a railroad foreman, and raise four children.
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Claus and Emma Miller |
Some of the triumphs and tragedies of his descendants he could never have imagined. One of his grandsons would perish in a crash of a flying machine not yet invented. Another would fill the new world with turtles and climbing walls and new kinds of art not yet dreamed of. As many immigrants did after their arrival, Mellberg Americanized his name, choosing “Claus Miller.” Many decades later, his grandson Jim Miller decided (for his professional name) to restore “Melberg” to his last name with a hyphen to honor his Grandfather and other ancestors.
FATHER - MARTIN MILLER
Claus Miller’s son Martin (1900-1987) moved from Minnesota to Michigan in 1932 and after some some time working at pattern shops he opened the Miller Pattern Company at 29229 Northwestern Highway in Southfield. The company made wood and metal patterns for architectural projects as well as foundries and shops in the Detroit area. To Jim Miller, his Dad was a skilled “genius” that he could never hope to equal.
I acquired skills that became invaluable in making cast metal sculptures and designing and building the complicated mold systems for the precast concrete sculptures of my design.
MOTHER - JENNIE MILLER

Jennie Miller (Courtesy of Joe Minton)
LOST BROTHER - PAUL MILLER
The loss of son Paul Miller (1925-1945) was a tragedy that shook the family and marked the teenage Jim for the rest of his life. Paul served in World War II as a Technical Sergeant Waist Gunner in the 551st Bomb Squadron, 385th Bomb Group, Heavy. He was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and a Purple Heart.

Paul Miller
On April 7, 1945, Paul Miller was on a run over Germany aboard a B-17G Flying Fortress with a crew of nine others. Their bomber was rammed from behind by a Messerschmitt BF-109 Fighter, and Paul’s aircraft crashed at Gifhorn, Germany near Wolfsburg. Paul was buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium, leaving his widow Ruth Priest Miller. They had been married two years.
WIFE - SALLY DOW MILLER
The love of Jim Miller’s life was Sally Dow (1930-2007). Her Brooklyn-born mother Dorothy Anderson and Scottish immigrant father John Dow settled in Royal Oak, MI to make a living and raise Sally and sister Dorothy. Sally was an adventurous and artistic soul who began playing piano at the age of three and took classical piano training in Paris for six years in the 1950s, running with a crowd of creative and colorful friends. She achieved concert pianist status and nurtured a love of music her whole life.

Sally Dow Miller
She was a gifted teacher and taught hundreds of students to play the piano, often simplifying difficult pieces according to their ability. Many of them pursued careers in music and Sally always remained interested in her student’s lives. Sally had a great sense of humor and she was always respectful of everyone.

Sally Dow Miller (Courtesy of Joe Minton)