Robert Charles MacMillan

He was born on October 30, 1954, and was raised in Kearny, New Jersey. Beginning in 1969, Bob spent his summers at Culver Lake, a place that became especially dear to him. In 1983, he and his family made Culver Lake their permanent home.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, Robert MacMillan and Hazel (née Rowlands) MacMillan, and his brother, Donald A. MacMillan.

He was the beloved husband of Kathleen “Kathie” MacMillan (Crawford), his wife and best friend. He was the cherished father of Ryan MacMillan and his wife, Golda. He was the treasured brother of Deborah McInerney and her late husband, Kevin McInerney, and Thomas R. MacMillan and his wife, Diane. He is also survived by his uncle, David Rowlands, and his wife, Joyce.

Bob was a loving uncle to Jaclyn, Kelly, Raymond, Shaun, and the late Michael, and a great-uncle to Brennan. He was also a beloved nephew of the late Elsie Harbach, Sandy MacMillan, and Donald MacMillan.

He was also a beloved brother-in-law to Suzanne Sheerin and her husband, John, and Kevin Crawford and his wife, Ronnie. He was a loving son-in-law to the late Catherine Crawford, Kathie’s mother, and a loving uncle to Maureen and her husband, Dan; Susan; and Kevin and his wife, Carissa. He was a proud great-uncle to Emma, Addison, Nicholas, Mathew, Aaron, and Cameron.

Bob graduated from Kearny High School in 1972, where he played football and trumpet in the school band, following in the musical footsteps of his grandfather, “Pop.” After high school, he attended RCA Institute in New York City, where he further developed his lifelong passion for technology and electronics. He also became a licensed ham radio operator.

Bob met his beloved wife, Kathie, in their hometown of Kearny in 1976. Kathie was 20 and Bob was 22. What began as a friendship soon blossomed into a loving relationship. After seven years of dating, they were married on June 26, 1983, beginning a marriage filled with love, friendship, family, and countless memories.

Together, Bob and Kathie built a life centered around their family. They welcomed their son, Ryan, who looked up to his father and was immensely proud of him. Bob took great pride in being a father and loved sharing his knowledge, interests, and adventures with Ryan. Their relationship was built on admiration, love, and the many things they enjoyed doing together.

Bob and Kathie also shared a special love of dogs and raised Dalmatians. Their dogs were not simply pets, but cherished companions who were woven into the life they built together.

Bob had many passions and interests throughout his life. He taught Sunday School at the United Methodist Church in Branchville for five years alongside his wife. He loved fishing and was proud of the prized brown trout he caught at Culver Lake in 1987. He was an avid New York Giants fan and enjoyed exploring the ever-changing world of technology.

Bob’s curiosity knew few limits. He enjoyed building and operating slot cars, R/C cars, and R/C airplanes, and was a member of the “Top O’ New Jersey R/C Club.” He enjoyed sharing these hobbies with others and especially encouraged his nephew Michael to become involved in R/C activities. Bob was also musically inclined and loved instruments. He was a member of a band with friends, where he handled the sound system, combining his love of music with his natural talent for understanding technology.

Throughout his career, Bob worked at several companies, including Standard Tool, Mattel Toys, and MedTech. He began his working life building and repairing plastic injection-molding machines. His natural curiosity led him to teach himself the skills he needed to move into information technology, eventually becoming an IT Manager. He continued working in the technology field until his retirement from Viant in 2021, making great friends along the way.

Those who knew Bob will remember him as a true friend—generous, intelligent, curious, and always willing to share his knowledge and lend a helping hand. He had a remarkable ability to become interested in almost anything, figure out how it worked, and then learn how to fix it. He approached life with genuine curiosity, whether he was working with technology, enjoying music, fishing at Culver Lake, cheering for the Giants, or pursuing one of his many hobbies.

But above all of his interests and accomplishments, Bob’s greatest passion was his family. He treasured raising Ryan and sharing life’s adventures with Kathie and those he loved.

Bob also deeply valued his friendships. He was grateful for the many wonderful friends who became part of his life and remained close to his heart, including Michele, Dave, Garry, Lenny, Ann, Mario, and so many others.

His presence, humor, generosity, curiosity, and friendship will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. His memory will live on in the family he loved so dearly, the friendships he treasured, the dogs who brought him joy, and the countless lives he touched along the way.

Services will be held on October 4 at Wood Funeral Home in Branchville, New Jersey, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s memory to Compassionate Care Hospice in Sparta, New Jersey; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Montville, New Jersey; Frankford Fire Department; or Blue Ridge Rescue Squad in Branchville, New Jersey. The family extends its gratitude for the compassionate care Bob received during his courageous battle with cancer, which he fought with incredible strength and bravery.

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