Obituary for John Vyvyan McMillin II

John Vyvyan McMillin II, Age 88, of Williamsburg, IA, passed away at Highland Ridge in Williamsburg, surrounded by his loving family.

Per John’s wishes, there will be no services at this time.

John V. McMillin II, was born on December 17, 1934, in Ottumwa, IA. He was the son of  John V. McMillin, Sr., and Mary (Hargeshimer) McMillin.  He attended Stiles, IA rural grade school and was a Bloomfield High School graduate, Class of 1952.

He received his amateur radio license in his youth to communicate with friends around the world. 

John married his sweetheart, Lois Gracie Cossel, daughter of Edwin and Gracie (Piper) Cossel in 1955.
 
He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with honors from the University of Iowa, in 1957, and did his graduate courses at the University of New Mexico, and the University of Iowa. 

In the 1960’s, he achieved his pilot license, and began his lifetime love of numismatics.

While John was employed as an atomic field-test engineer from March 1957 to February of 1959, John participated in many nuclear detonations at the Nevada test site, and also spent four months on Bikini Atoll at the Pacific Proving Grounds where hydrogen bomb tests were conducted. 

He spent the remainder of his career designing and inventing student test scoring machines (MRC, NCS and Pearson) and electronic ballot counting systems. John retired in 1996, earning many U.S. and foreign patents for inventions of high-speed electronic test-scoring machines used for the American College Test, the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, and others used today.
 
Soon after John’s retirement he took on new passions of restoring the family farm, researching genealogy throughout the United States, and preserving family history for the next generations of McMillins.

John is survived by his wife of 68 years: son John V. (fiancé Nancy Burden) McMillin III, and children, John V. IV, Justin D., and Jordyn A.; James E. (Lisa) McMillin, and twin sons Sidney (Jessica) and Stuart (Sarah); and Joel D. (Yiqun) McMillin, and daughter Jessica (Max) Linstrom; and special friends Ericca Machen McMillin Boone, Marcie Machen, and sister-in-law JoElla Cossel.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Arbor Day Foundation, Boys Town, and Disabled American Veterans Foundation.

There will be a family celebration of his life at a later date.