Daniel W. McMillen

Daniel Wade McMillen, 65, of Uhrichsville, Ohio, passed away at home on his beloved farm on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Born April 9, 1961 in Dennison, Ohio, he was a son of Kay Marie (née McMann) McMillen of Tippecanoe, Ohio and the late Carl Elmer McMillen.

Dan was a 1979 graduate of the former Lakeland High School before earning his Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University in 1983. He applied everything he learned to a career that dovetailed with his profound love of nature, spending over thirty years as a wildlife biologist for the Ohio Division of Wildlife until retiring in 2014. He was also an avid farmer who loved working his family farm and caring for his cows throughout his entire life.

A devoted fan of Ohio sports, Dan spent countless happy hours cheering for any team of The Ohio State University Buckeyes, as well as the Cleveland Browns, Guardians, and Cavaliers. Most of all, he cherished the time that he spent in nature whether it was gardening or tending to his trail cams and deer feeding sites in preparation for buck season.

Dan leaves behind his wife, the former Lora Diane Marshall, to whom he was married in August of 1992; his mother, Kay; five children, James “Jimmy” Tharp, and Mark, Gretta, Danelle, and Brook McMillen; five grandchildren, Jimmy, Jaxon, Leah, Bailey, and Bella; four siblings, Greg, Mike, Carla, and Rick (Rita) McMillen; and a number of cousins. In addition to his father, Carl, he was preceded in death by his grandparents.

Dan will be interred in Deersville Patterson Union Cemetery in Deersville, Ohio following an 11:00 a.m. graveside service on Tuesday, May 26. Those wishing to honor his memory by a charitable contribution are encouraged to do so to their favorite charity for the benefit of wildlife and nature, in lieu of flowers.