John Wayne Millar

1948 - 2018

John Wayne Millar passed away peacefully at home Friday, October 26, 2018, after a hard-fought battle with liver cancer. John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and public servant who spent his life teaching his family to love and respect our Heavenly Father and the outdoors.

John was born to Roderick Wayne Millar and Frances Rushton on May 28, 1948, in Shelley, Idaho, the third of four children. After his father's untimely death, he was raised by his mother and her new husband Fred Hutchens. John grew up in Rigby, Idaho, and graduated from Rigby High School. He attended Ricks College and then BYU where he studied to be a civil engineer and met and married his sweetheart, Donna Jean Taylor, on August 14, 1970. They were sealed for time and eternity by his grandfather, Roderick Millar, in the Idaho Falls Temple. Together they had five children.

John and Jean raised their family in Rexburg, Idaho, where John worked as a civil engineer for Forsgren Associates for 25 years and then as the City of Rexburg's Public Works Director for another 18 years. He took great pride in designing and overseeing the development of many water and wastewater projects over Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming, and then became the City of Rexburg's expert on municipalities and infrastructure and helped the city adapt to the sudden growth of BYU-Idaho. He loved his work and was admired and appreciated by those with whom he rubbed shoulders.

When he wasn't working, John was either leading a group of scouts on some new adventure, hiking with his daughters through his loved Teton Mountains, camping and hunting with his family, snowmobiling with his sons-in-law, boating with his grandkids, motor biking with his friends, or hunting in the wilds of Africa with his son. John NEVER knew what it meant to hold still. He loved to tinker with vehicles and always had a snowmobile, car, or jeep torn apart only to be rebuilt stronger, faster, and more powerful. He shared these loves with his family in countless ways.

John will be missed more than we can express. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother David Millar and sister Terri Merrill. He is survived by his sister Ellen Burnside and stepbrothers Jack Hutchens and Jim Hutchens. He leaves a legacy of love and tireless service for his wife, Donna Jean Taylor, and their children and families: Dr. Bryce & Kathy Millar (Burley, ID); Ben & Dr. Alisa Millar Henrie (Madison, AL); Richard and Kerri Mills (Rexburg, ID); Nick and Tonya Charles (Minden, NV); and Heath and Rebecca Anderson (Egin, ID) along with 19 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

As John rarely paused in life, we can only imagine what adventures he pursues on the other side. We love and miss you.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 2, 2018 at the Rexburg Stake Center, 845 W 7th S. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home and again from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Condolences may be sent online to www.flammfh.com.