Wilkins Hiram “Sam” MacMillen

Wilkins Hiram “Sam” MacMillen

NEW SCOTLAND — Wilkins Hiram “Sam” MacMillen was an important part of two institutions in town — he was the long-time manager of Thacher Park and, with his brother, he built Tastee Treat Ice Cream.

He died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, after a long and courageous battle with kidney disease.  He was 81.

Mr. MacMillen was born in New Scotland, the son of the late Hiram and Dorothy MacMillen of New Salem.  After graduating from Voorheesville Central School in 1952, he attended Albany Business College. He met his beloved wife after he graduated from college. Their marriage ended only with his death.

He then went to work for New York State Parks and Recreation, constructing the Thompsons Lake Campground.  He quickly worked his way up through the ranks and became assistant park manager at Thacher Park. Mr. MacMillen then moved his family to Grafton Lakes State Park where he was park manager from 1979 to 1984.  He then moved back to Thacher Park to be park manager where he retired in 1995.

In addition, Mr. MacMillen, along with his brother and best friend, Earl MacMillen, constructed Tastee Treat Ice Cream in 1954 and ran it together for many years.  They also had a trucking business together in the late 1950s.

Mr. MacMillen grew up on the family farm in New Salem, which he and his brother Earl continued to run until recent years.  As a young man, he was a deacon and an elder at the New Salem Reformed Church where he married his wife in 1963 and later had both his sons baptized.

Later in life, Mr. MacMillen was a communicant at the Unionville Reformed Church. He is a past member of the New Salem Volunteer Fire Department, past member of the Albany County Farm Bureau, and a past director of Community Insurance Co.

Mr. MacMillen liked spending time with his wife of 52 years, his two sons, and his grandchildren.  He enjoyed taking trips to Florida; Maine; and Lancaster, Pennsylvania with his wife.

Mr. McMillen also enjoyed watching the New York Yankees as well as the Siena Saints basketball team.

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He is survived by his wife Joan (née Braungart) MacMillen; his son John E. MacMillen; his son Matthew S. MacMillen and his wife, Hollie; his brother, Earl F. MacMillen, and his wife, Beverly; his grandchildren, John E. MacMillen Jr., Jesse Wilkins MacMillen, Julianna MacMillen and James Porter; his great-grandchildren, Jayden, Mia and Tristen; and a long list of extended family and friends.

His wife would especially like to thank Dr. Horn and Dr. Carcillo, Emily, Shawn, Karen, and her friend David for nine years of love and care at Albany Regional Dialysis, as well as the staff at Evergreen Nursing Home for their compassion during the time of his passing.

Calling hours will be at New Comer Funeral Home on Friday, Jan. 29, from 10 a.m. to noon with a private burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery and Memorial Park.

Memorial donations may be made to the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation where a tribute has been set up in his name.  Tribute gifts may be made by phone by calling 1-800-PKD-CURE or by mail to PKD Foundation, Post Office Box 871847, Kansas City, MO 64187-1847.  Please make checks payable to the PKD Foundation, naming Wilkins MacMillen in memoriam.

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