Jack McMillin, the longtime Butler County controller, will retire at the end of this year.

In an e-mail announcement on Monday, McMillin said, “I have been thinking much on events around me and the present course of my life and how I may best use whatever remaining time God has granted me toward some good and useful purpose.

“After some considerable thought and deliberation, I have made a decision to retire from this office at the conclusion of my term next year (December 2013).”

McMillin, 60, of Zelienople first took office in 1994. He ran unopposed for a fifth term in 2009. He could not be reached for comment this morning.

Diane Marburger, county treasurer, said this morning that she is “stunned” by McMillin’s announcement.

“I asked him at (county chief clerk) Billy O’Donnell’s retirement party when he would retire, and Jack said he would never retire,” she said.

Commissioner Dale Pinkerton said this morning that he also is surprised by the announcement.

“Jack has done quite a job for the county all these years,” Pinkerton said. “I wish him good luck in his retirement, and hope he gets to do the things he wants to do.”