DR. WILLIS G. MCMILLAN

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DR. WILLIS G. MCMILLAN Willis (Bill) McMillan, age 75, passed away in Naples, FL, Tuesday, September 9, 2014 after a brief battle with Cancer. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he was the youngest of three children and the only son of Ruth and Archie McMillan. In 1961, he married the love of his life and best friend Mary (Fenn). Bill graduated with Honours in 1962 from the University of Manitoba Medical School. After a one-year Internship and another year of General Surgery, they moved to Minneapolis where he completed his residency in Ear, Nose and Throat at the University of Minnesota. In 1967 they moved to Madison, WI where he practiced until he retired in 2003. He was drafted by the US Army, and served at Reynolds Army Hospital at Fort Sill, OK from 1969 to 1971 as head of the Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, and then returned to his practice in Madison. He will long be remembered for his keen intellect, and extraordinary grasp of the field of medicine. He served his patients, family and friends with his expansive knowledge, dedication and kind compassion. Bill loved to express his joy for life with his booming voice through singing and humour, as all of his family and friends will kindly recall. He had an amazing memory and knowledge of what seemed to be every subject. He loved technology, and more specifically anything Apple. He was thrilled to stand in line at the Apple Store for an iPhone release once, "just for the experience". In spite of the many health setbacks he encountered over the years, he lived a very full and active life. He was a very proud and generous father and grandfather to his children and grandchildren. He was an avid photographer, loved walks on the beach, cheering on the Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers, dinners with their incredible group of friends and toasting the sunset with a glass of wine. Bill was a dedicated member of the Pelican Bay Men's Coffee, Naples Mac Users Group, Saint Andrews Society, Gyro International, The Club Pelican Bay in Naples, Blackhawk Country Club in Madison, WI and Delta Upsilon Fraternity. He has been President of the Carlton Place Homeowners Association for years. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary, son John (Caroline) of Scottsdale, AZ, daughter Sheryl of Carlsbad, CA, five grandchildren: Ian and Ben McMillan and Axton, Madison and Krew Lambert, his sister Margaret Turner of Clovis, CA, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Barbara and Russell Ryan of Winnipeg, and numerous nephews and nieces in Canada and the US. Bill was proceeded in death by his father, mother, oldest sister Pat Sykes and her husband Doug, as well as his in-laws, Bill and Betty Fenn. We wish to send a special thank you to his doctors, Avow Hospice and the caregivers at GlenCare. Services will be held on Friday, September 26 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Williams Catholic Church in Naples, FL. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be sent to the charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 16, 2014