Darling, Melvin Howard 1909-1984

DARLING, MYERS, HENRY, LAGER, WEBER, LANKFORD, GOETZINGER, KILBY, VERDON, MELCHER, WILLIAMS

Posted By: Errin Wilker
Date: 11/16/2016 at 13:03:36

Melvin H. Darling, 75, of New Albin, died Friday (Nov. 2) after his airboat overturned in the Mississippi River, about a half mile north of New Albin.

Darling's body was recovered about 9:30 a.m. Sunday in four feet of water, according to a spokesman for the Allamakee County Sheriff's Department.

Darling apparently died of exposure, according to Dale Wicklund, Lansing, acting Allamakee County Medical examiner.

Darling was born Feb. 8, 1909, in Jefferson Township, Houston County, Minn., to Lysander and Clara (Myers) Darling. He married Mildred Henry on Aug. 17, 1932, in Caledonia, Minn. She died on June 28, 1979.

He had been an automobile mechanic prior to his retirement.

Survivors are four sons, John of La Crosse, Wis. and Alvin, Gerald and Rick, all of New Albin; four daughters, Rita Lager of Davie, Fla., and Carol Weber, Mary Lankford and Kathy Goetzinger, all of New Albin; 29 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; four brothers, Vernon, Thomas and Elton, all of New Albin, and Robert of Strawberry Point; and five sisters, Vivian Kilby of Charles City, Belva Darling of New Albin, and Margaretta Melcher and Elsie Williams, both of Waukon.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a brother and a sister.

Services will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph's Catholic Church, new Albin. The Rev. Robert P. Rahe will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call at the New Albin Funeral Chapel today from 6 to 9 p.m., with a wake scripture service at 8 p.m.

The Burke-Thornburg Funeral Home, Lansing, is in charge of arrangements.

Source: Newspaper Clipping, Hand-Dated 1984.