Nathaniel H. "Nat" Miller

Nathaniel H. (Nat) Miller, age 96, of Owatonna, MN, formerly Winona, entered into a state of eternal rest on Friday, October 17, 2025, when he joined his beloved Mary Ann in heaven.

Nat was born in La Crosse, WI, on March 28, 1929, and lived in La Crosse, Minnesota City, Anchorage, AK, Caledonia, and Owatonna. He married Mary Ann Prondzinski on June 14, 1952, at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Winona. Mary Ann passed away on April 25, 2009. After Mary Ann’s passing, Nat lived alone in the house they built at 565 W. Mill St. in Winona until 2014, when he moved to an assisted living establishment in Owatonna, MN.

Nat enlisted in the Army shortly after his 17th birthday, honorably serving his country in the Army, Army Air Force, and the Air Force. He worked in the parts department at the local Ford dealer in Winona and then applied for and was employed by the Minnesota State Patrol, serving in Hallock, Caledonia, and Winona. He retired from the State Patrol in 1984.

He was a member of the Elks Club, American Legion, Minnesota Police Officers Association, Retired Peace Officers Association, and the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka in Winona.

Nat loved traveling with his family. The entire family, and their ever-present dog, made a camping trip to and from Alaska in 1966, when 1200 miles of the Alaska Highway was all rock. They traveled to all the states except Hawaii, and all the Canadian provinces except Newfoundland. Nat and Mary Ann drove to and from Alaska four more times, and they visited Europe twice with the highlight being a visit to Bytow, Poland, the ancestral home of Mary Ann.

Nat is survived by two children: Lynn M. (Barry) Engrav, Farmington, MN, and Lauri A. (Rick) Cowell, Owatonna, MN; 13 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann; sons, Michael and Gregory; daughters, Donna Kotlarz and Lisa Pitts; parents, Henry and Mabel Miller; sisters, Lilah Scharmer and Lorraine Minnick; and a great-granddaughter, Ava.

Visitation will be held at the Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home in Winona on Friday, November 7, 2025, from 10 AM until the funeral service at 11:30 AM. Deacon James Welch will officiate. Following the service, military rites will be provided outside the funeral home.  A luncheon and reception will be held at the funeral home, followed by burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Nat’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.