Melvin H. Korrell 1917-2007

NICKS, KORRELL, HALL BAETHKE, GEDERT, SNOWDEN

Posted By: j.n. (email)
Date: 9/20/2014 at 00:42:09

Melvin H. Korrell

Melvin H. Korrell, 90, of Benton Harbor, Michigan, died Tuesday, December 4, 2007, after a brief illness. His funeral service will be celebrated Saturday, December 8, 2007, at 10:00 A.M. at Zion Evangelical United Church of Christ, 3001 Veronica Drive, St. Joseph, MI 49085 with Pastor Dan Smith officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 7, 2007, from 4:00-8:00 P.M. at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI. Burial will be in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, IL at 1:00 P.M. CST. Memorials may be made to Zion Evangelical UCC Choir Fund or the American Heart Association. Those wishing to share a condolence online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.

Mel was born March 30, 1917, in Bellwood, Illinois, to Dorothea (Baethke) and Philip H. Korrell, both deceased. He married Dolores Catherine Hall on July 4, 1945, and enjoyed 56 � years of marriage until her death on January 1, 2002.

After graduating from Illinois Institute of Technology, he served his country during World War II in the United States Army as a topographer.

Mel was an engineer and worked for Whirlpool Corporation in the Laundry Group for 31 years before retiring in 1982. During his years with Whirlpool, he received three patents.

Besides his family, golf and music were his passions in life. He was an avid golfer, caddied at Elmhurst Country Club as a teenager and enjoyed many years of golfing in the Whirlpool golf league at Blossom Trails Golf Course, where he was known as "straight as an arrow Mel". After he retired, he enjoyed golfing at many area courses with his friends, especially Art and Diane, his daughter and grandsons.

Music was probably an even bigger part of his life. Mel played the violin from a very young age. In 1952 he began playing with the Twin Cities Symphony Orchestra, now the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra. He held the position of first chair, second violin for many years. He retired from the Symphony in 1995, and his family remembers he only missed playing in two or three concerts during that tenure. He also was a member of the Renaissance String Quartet for many years.

Mel was a member of Zion Evangelical UCC and was a faithful, dedicated member of their Chancel Choir since he moved to this area 56 years ago. He was practicing with the choir, preparing for their Christmas Cantata, right before his illness. He also played his violin at church services and last played there this past summer.

Mel is survived by his devoted daughters, Linda Korrell, St. Joseph, MI, Patricia (Richard) Gedert, New Buffalo, MI, and Debra (Steven) Snowden, Kenton, OH; and his loving grandchildren, Kimberly (Geoffrey) Pacana, Naperville, IL, Shawn Gedert, Three Oaks, MI, Catharine Snowden, Huntington Beach, CA, Bonnie Snowden, Las Vegas NV, and Robert Snowden, Kenton, OH. He also is survived by his sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, and several nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents and wife, Mel was preceded in death by his son, James Korrell, on December 4, 1952, and by two brothers.

Our father was a gentle, caring man who never said an unkind word about anyone. To know him was to love him. He will be sadly missed by all who loved him and those whose lives he touched. His memory will be forever etched in our hearts.

(Delores Hall Korrell is the daughter of Stanley G and Emma Hanus HALL, She is the granddaughter of Catherine Nicks and Stanley HALL.)