Glenda Miller, former McHenry County treasurer, dies at age 68

Glenda Miller already was a stalwart in the McHenry County treasurer’s office by the time she won the top job in 2014, having served more than a decade as chief deputy.

Miller, 68, died on April 17 in her home in Harvard of complications from a stroke she suffered in late January, her family said.

Donna Kurtz, Miller’s successor as treasurer, said she met Miller at a victory party when Kurtz’ mother, Rosemary, won a seat in the Illinois House. She was quickly struck by Miller’s “spirit of fun and happiness and optimism.”

“Glenda was one of the most dedicated and highly respected public servants that ever was part of McHenry County government,” Donna Kurtz said. “She was not just an elected official, but she worked her way up through the ranks to become treasurer.”

Miller helped build the treasurer’s office staff into a close-knit family with low levels of turnover and “very high levels of trust,” Kurtz said. She possessed a “light-hearted, fun-loving sense of humor” and an unusual ability to defuse conflicts “with a laugh and an effort to work through problems,” Kurtz said.

Born Nov. 9, 1955, in Harvard, Miller received a master’s degree from Aurora University. She worked for a local bank before joining the treasurer’s office, and retired at the end of her second term in November 2022.

She is survived by her husband, Paul Lis; a daughter, Tiffany Miller; a sister, Bonnie Bailey; and three grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home, 107 W. Sumner St., Harvard. Mass will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 206 E. Front St., Harvard.