Jeffery Millin
WOODWARD, OK-Jeffery Wayne ‘Jeff’ Millin, 59, of Trenary, MI passed away on September 5, 2025. He suffered a heart attack while hunting in Woodward, Oklahoma.
Jeff was born in Niles, MI on August 13, 1966 to Robert and Merielyn (Hossfeld) Millin and was the youngest of four boys. He graduated from Niles High School in 1984. Immediately after high school he enlisted in the Army, attaining the rank of E-4 Specialist. He was also a member of the Green Berets. He spent some of his Army career in Germany and eventually ended up at Leesville Army Base in Ft. Polk, LA. It was in Louisiana he met his future wife, Kathy. He was honorably discharged from active duty in 1988 and then joined the Army Reserves in Marquette, MI.
He married Kathy Fowler on July 2, 1988 in Pineville, LA. They moved to Marquette to attend Northern Michigan University where he completed his bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology. Out of college, he began his career at Pioneer Surgical in Marquette where he was CEO. Jeff and Kathy have three daughters, Miranda, Kaitlyn, and Olivia.
In 2008, Jeff completed his Master’s of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. After retiring from Pioneer, he moved with his family to a farm in Trenary, MI.
In addition to farming, Jeff was also the co-owner of FM Woundcare, where he worked until his diagnosis of kidney cancer in 2018.
Jeff lived a full life and was always willing to try something new. He had many hobbies and interests including sailing, farming, hunting, and traveling. Jeff enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his daughters, with whom he enjoyed competitive sailing on his Ensign and Melges 15, and watching hockey, specifically NMU and the Detroit Red Wings. He enjoyed taking his wife camping and driving just to see where the road went.
Jeff was a respected member of Bethel Baptist Church in Marquette, Michigan where he served as Elder Chairman for a few years. He was very gifted in conversation and knew a little about almost everything.
Jeff is survived by his wife of 37 years, Kathy, his daughters Miranda, Kaitlyn, and Olivia Millin; brothers Scott (Kim), Andrew (Theresa), and Eugene (Melanie) Millin; nieces and nephews Noah Millin, Maggen (Luke Sproul) and Chelsea Millin, Nathan, Natalie, and Nicole Millin, as well as his ‘littles’ Marlee, Adlee, and Haislee Miron. He is preceded in death by his father, Bob and mother, Meri.
A memorial service will be held at Bethel Baptist Church on Friday September 19, 2025 with visitation at 4pm and service at 6pm.