Samuelson, Melvin Victor (1921-2015)
SAMUELSON, HACKERSON, GREGERSEN, LAST, KLINGENSMITH, KOCH, OLSON, STANLEY, NORDSTROM, RANKIN
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 6/5/2015 at 15:45:37
Melvin Victor Samuelson
April 30, 1921 - May 19, 2015Melvin V. Samuelson, age 94, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died on Tuesday, May 19, 2015, at his home in Storm Lake.
Melvin Victor Samuelson, a son of Carl V. and Minnie Malinda (Hackerson) Samuelson, was born April 30, 1921, in Albert City, Iowa. He grew up in the Albert City area, graduating from Albert City High School in 1940. On September 14, 1942, he enlisted in the United States Navy and proudly served his country until his honorable discharge on March 22, 1946.
On October 27, 1944, Melvin married Clara Gregersen at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alta, Iowa. Subsequently, they were blessed with four daughters: Colleen, Linda, Brenda, and Christine.
In 1947, Melvin graduated from Buena Vista College and started teaching business at Alta High School, a position he held from 1947 to 1951. In 1951, he was granted a Master’s Degree from the University of South Dakota.
Melvin was the Superintendent for many community schools throughout his career: Linn Grove (July 1951-1955), Alta (July 1955-1967), Storm Lake (1975-1986). Between 1967 and 1975, he was the Assistant Superintendent at Storm Lake Community Schools.
During his tenure at Storm Lake, he completed his work at Iowa State University for Administration. During this time, he worked with the League of Schools and Iowa Central Community College to bring a campus site to Storm Lake. In addition, Melvin served on the Grand View College Board, the Augustana College Board, Sioux Falls Board, and, of course, the Iowa Central Community College Board, where he also served as chair. In 2004, the Storm Lake site was named for him. In 2012, Melvin received the Humanitarian Award from Iowa Central Community College and was named to the Iowa Central Triton Hall of Fame. He, also, served on the state organization for community college boards and was its president.
A member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Storm Lake, Melvin served in leadership positions within the church both locally and at the synod level.
A long time member of Kiwanis with a perfect attendance, he served as president, cooked many turkey filets, and worked many Kiwanis sponsored events. Working to resettle Tai Dam refugees from Laos, he helped them to find housing and employment as well as to adapt to their new culture. Throughout his life, he served as a blood donor, donating over twelve gallons of blood for others. Nevertheless, Melvin loved his family most of all. He will be remembered as a hard-working and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and friend to many.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Clara Samuelson, of Storm Lake, Iowa; his children: Colleen (Michael) Last, of Mason City, Iowa, Linda (James) Klingensmith, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Brenda Samuelson, of Storm Lake, Iowa, and Christine Samuelson, of Los Angeles, California; his grandchildren: Katherine and Meade Klingensmith; Megan (Trevor) Koch; Andrew and Joseph Last; Erik and Kaj Olson; and Gretchen (Michael) Stanley; his great-grandchildren: Myles Koch, Marinus Nordstrom, and Christian and Noah Stanley; and his sister, Marian Rankin, of Alameda, California; as well as nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.
Melvin was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Vernon Samuelson; his niece, Carrol Ann Samuelson; and his nephew, Gary Rankin.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 23, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Burial will follow in the Fairfield Township Cemetery in Albert City, Iowa. Visitation will take place on Friday, May 22, 2015, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Memorials may be directed to the Melvin Samuelson Scholarship Fund, c/o Iowa Central Community College or to St. Mark’s Lutheran Scholarship Fund. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.
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