James Miles Obituary James Gillespie Miles, born June 23, 1921 in Lincoln Nebraska, died April 23, 2012 in his beloved Minnesota home. Survived by his wonderful wife of 63 years, Laura Haverstock Miles, sons Steven H. Miles (Joline) and Henry H. Miles (Victoria), daughter Catherine M. Zimba (Kenneth), sister Mary Henderson, grandchildren Erica, Esme, Jessica, Adam, Kelsy and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Elsie Miles, brother Richard Miles. Jim grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska where his father practiced law, and his mother was the Dean of Art at the University of Nebraska. He attended the University of Nebraska and graduated as an Electrical Engineer. Jim taught Physics at the University of Nebraska and was an adjunct professor of business at the University of Minnesota. He received a BSL at William Mitchell law school. Jim worked for Sperry Corp. where he developed an engine analyzer for airplanes. During WWII, Miles worked on radar and other advanced electronics projects. After the war, he worked at Engineer Research Associates (ERA) where he made contributions to the computer industry. He and a few associates left ERA to start Control Data Corporation where he became Vice President of Marketing. Miles was committed to helping family, community and country and was proud to be of service to all. He became Chairman of the Board of the envisioned Minneapolis Childrens Hospital and worked closely with Arnold Anderson M.D. to raise money to build the hospital. As an engineer, Jim ensured that the building could be doubled in size, a vision which has since been realized. Miles saw politics as a way to build a better world. In 1974, he ran as an Independent Candidate for Governor of Minnesota and walked the entire state from Lyle near Iowa to International Falls listening to people and sharing his plans for the state. Jim bought a farm in Farmington Minnesota where he worked to restore the land and test new crops with the University of Minnesota. His dream was to revert the farm back to a natural area for public use. With that vision, son Henry, The Trust for Public Land, Dakota County, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources created one of the largest natural areas in the south metro, the 475 acre Vermillion River Aquatic and Wildlife Management Area. Other projects of vital interest to Jim included contributing to the building additions of Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis, Rio Verde Community Church in Arizona and Wayzata Community Church. He had a beautiful tenor voice and sang in the choirs of both Plymouth Congregational Church and Rio Verde Community Church. He was also interested in the arts and was a major supporter in the building of the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. Some of Jims many awards included Greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Achievement Award, 1973 Pioneer Champion Club for growing 166.10 bushels of corn per acre, 1974 WCCO Good Neighbor Award, 1974 Certificate of Appreciation from Kiwanis Club of St. Paul, and a 1974 Certificate of Appreciation from South Suburban Optimist Club of Bloomington. The family would like to give special thanks and acknowledgement to extraordinary people who helped care for Jim the past eight years: Lucy Anderson, Kerry Anderson, Nancy Baune, Sherry Germo, Bev Lang, Bev Siegle, Renee Stine, and Peter Jewett. A memorial service will be held Thursday, May 3rd at 4:00 p.m. at the Wayzata Community Church, 125 E. Wayzata Blvd., Wayzata, MN 55391 Memorials to Childrens Hospital and Clinics 2525 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404, Wayzata Community Church 125 E. Wayzata Blvd., Wayzata, MN 55391 or to the charity of the donors choice.