John "Jack" Melcher

MELCHER, LEAS, HANSON, HAGEN, COWELL, MCCRANEY, WALSCH, HILLESHIEM

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 11/29/2010 at 19:57:47

SOURCE: Waukon Standard newspaper, August 14, 1996
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

John "Jack" Melcher was born January 28, 1916 to John and Effie (Leas) Melcher in rural Monona, Iowa. He received his education at "Big Foot" rural elementary school, Waterville High School and Waukon Junior College. On October 3, 1940 he married Virgel Hanson at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church. From 1946-1949 they farmed near Rossville, then in rural Harpers Ferry until 1967. Jack also was a clerk at Hills Sale Barn, Branch manager for Northeast Farm Service, and was a farm appraiser for the Allamakee County Assessor's office for several years.

A lifetime area resident, Jack was a member of Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church and Allamakee County Farm Bureau, holding various offices in both; a leader and organizer of Allamakee County 4-H.

He died Thursday, August 8, 1996 at the Good Samaritan Center. He was 80 years old. Surviving are his wife at Harpers Ferry; two sons and their wives, Roger and Karen of Waterville and Scott and Barb of Harpers Ferry; a daughter Sheri and her husband Elmo Hagen of Waterville; ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are two sisters and their husbands, Wilma and Dave Cowell of Waukon; Joan and Milton McCraney of Evansdale; five brothers and their wives, Carl and Lucky Melcher of Monona, Arden and Donna of Cedar Rapids, Vernon and Bunny of Waukon, Noel and Marcine of Burlington, WA and Ivan and Donna of Monona.

Preceding him in death were two brothers, Lester and Glenn; two sisters, Amelia Walsch and Arlene Hilleshiem; a grandson and one great-grandchild. Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday August 10 at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery with arrangements by Martin Funeral Home. Casket bearers were Marty, Jeffrey, Thomas, Brian, and Jacqualyn Melcher, Erik, Jon, and _____ Hagen.