Obituary of John W. McMillen

John W. McMillen, 77, of Carlinville, Illinois, passed away Saturday morning, September 21, 2024, at home with his family. John was born on February 19, 1947, in Alton, Illinois, son of Vernon and Alberta (Ganz) McMillen. John attended school in Carlinville. He married April Evans on August 2, 1968, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Carlinville. John was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Terry and Ronnie McMillen, father-in-law, Bris Evans and niece, Krista Kirchner. John enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on January 21, 1966 at the age of 18. During his military service, he served two tours in Vietnam. John earned three Purple Hearts and was Honorably Discharged on April 19, 1969. After his military service, John worked several jobs before he started his career as a coal miner; Olin Ammunition Factory, LeClede Steel and Grafton Boatworks. In 1970, John was hired to build Monterey Coal Mine in Carlinville, Illinois. He then began his career as a coal miner underground and ended his career as a heavy equipment operator in February 2003 after over 32 years. John was a member of the United Mine Workers of America. In his early years, John enjoyed driving fast cars and working on his Dodge Super Bee and spending time with his brother, Terry, and good friend, Fred Cope. In 1970, John’s wife, April, bought him his first horse, Lady; and this is where his true love of horses began. Through out the past 54 years, John has always had horses. He loved trail riding, horse camping and traveling out west to Wyoming and Montana and riding in the mountains with his good friend, Lou Schreiter. John is a true family man. He loved his family deeply and enjoyed spending time with them. John always lent a helping hand to anyone who needed it. John is survived by his wife, April. A daughter, Lori Raab; son-in-law, Craig Raab; and granddaughter, Emily Rose Raab, age 18, of Carlinville. A son, Matt McMillen and granddaughter, Aubrie Elaine McMillen, age 7, of Carlinville. A sister, Debbie Hudson, sister-in-law, Sandy Cramer (Doug), mother-in-law, Jean Evans of Carlinville, sister-in-laws, Dorothy Selinger, of Palmyra and Karen Mitchell (David) of Conway, Arkansas, and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Tuesday, September 24, 2024 from 5-7 pm at Davis-Anderson Funeral Home in Carlinville, Illinois. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at Davis-Anderson Funeral Home in Carlinville. Burial will follow at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Carlinville. Memorials may be to The Land of Lincoln Honor Flights for Veterans in Springfield, Illinois. In May 2016, John went on a Honor Flight with his daughter, Lori. He had a wonderful time and would want other veterans to experience it, too. Please visit www.davisandersonfuneralhome.com to leave condolences or light a candle in his memory. Davis-Anderson Funeral Home, Carlinville is in charge of arrangements.