Wilkins H."Sam" Macmillen

East Greenbush- Wilkins Hiram ("Sam") MacMillen, 81, beloved husband of Joan MacMillen, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on January 25, 2016, after a long and courageous battle with kidney disease. Sam was born in New Scotland, NY and was 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 and after graduating from ABC, he met Joan. 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. Sam 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, Sam, 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 1950's.

Sam grew up on the family farm in New Salem which he and his brother Earl continued to run up until recent years. As a young man, Sam 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, Sam was a Communicant at the Unionville Reformed Church. Sam 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.

Sam enjoyed spending time with his wife of 52 years, his two sons and his grandchildren. He enjoyed taking trips to Florida, Maine, and Lancaster, Penn. with his wife. Sam also enjoyed watching the NY Yankees as well as the Siena Saints basketball team. He is survived by his wife Joan (Braungart) MacMillen, his son John E. MacMillen, his son Matthew S. MacMillen and 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 as well as his great grandchildren Jayden, Mia and Tristen, and a long list of extended family and friends.

Joan would especially like to thank Dr. Horn and Dr. Carcillo, Emily, Shawn, Karen, and her friend David for 9 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, January 29th from 10:00 am - 12:00pm. A brief service will follow the calling hours at noon with a private burial at Memory Gardens Cemetery and Memorial Park.

Memorial donations can be made to the Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Foundation where a tribute has been set up in Wilkins' name. Tribute gifts can be made via phone by calling 1.800.PKD.CURE or by mailing your donation to PKD Foundation, P.O. Box 871847, Kansas City, MO 64187-1847. Please make checks payable to the PKD Foundation, naming Wilkins MacMillen in memoriam.