William Melson 1874-1952

MELSON, HIGHLY, CHRISTENSEN

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 2/21/2019 at 10:18:30

June 26, 1952 - The Tipton Advertiser

William Ira Melson, a life-long resident of Cedar county, Iowa, passed away at Mercy hospital in Davenport, Iowa, at 5:15 p.m. Sunday, June 15th, suffering from a broken hip he received two weeks previously.

Mr. Melson, the son of Wm. F. and Margaret M. Melson, was born Feb. 17, 1874, on a farm northwest of Rochester, Iowa, and passed away at the age of 78 years, 2 months and 28 days.

He spent his younger days on the farm, later becoming a rural letter carrier until he retired in 1939. He was married to Mary Margaret Highly, Dec. 30, 1896, who passed away in 1946.

One son, Foster, was born to them. Other survivors include one granddaughter, Norma Jean, Davenport; also one sister, Mrs. Ellen Christensen, of Waterloo, Iowa, and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Mr. Melson was a member of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church of Tipton, Iowa, and was an active worker in the church as long as his health permitted him to take part. He was a kind neighbor and a good friend to all who knew him, doing kind and thoughtful deeds for them.

Mr. Melson was a member of Manitou Lodge No. 6, I.O.O.F. for over 40 years, of which he held several offices and was very active in their degree work until 2 years ago when he suffered a light stroke, after which he made his home with his son in Davenport.

Memorial services were held on Wednesday, June 18th, at 2:00 p.m. in the Sheets funeral home in Tipton, the Rev. Harold Kratzat officiating. Manitou Lodge members headed by Brother Gordon Smith, conducted services at the graveside.

Interment was in the Tipton Masonic cemetery. Those serving as pallbearers were Eddie Bell, Robert Holladay, Honnis Wehde, Russell Chapman, Walter Randall and Ernest Ocheltree.