Gerald C. Melssen 1949-2016

MELSSEN, KIELER, UPMANN, YOHE, LAU, KELLY, MORSHEAD, LAPAGE, KING

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 11/8/2016 at 08:13:32

EPWORTH, Iowa - Gerald C. Melssen, 66, of Epworth, Iowa, passed away Saturday, February 6, 2016, at his home in Epworth, Iowa, after a short but courageous battle with lung cancer.

Friends and relatives of Gerald may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Reiff Funeral Home in Epworth, Iowa, where there will be a wake service at 4:00 p.m. Friends may also call after 9:00 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Services for Gerald will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 10, 2016, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Epworth, Iowa, with Rev. Richard Kuhn presiding. Burial will be held in Highview Cemetery in Epworth, Iowa, with full military honors afforded by the Epworth John White American Legion Post #650.

Gerald was born June 28, 1949, in Dickeyville, Wisconsin, son of Henry and Mary Ann (Kieler) Melssen. He graduated from Wahlert High School in 1967. On December 21, 1974, he was united in marriage to Sandra King at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Epworth, IA. He worked at John Deere Dubuque Works for 40 years until his retirement in May of 2012. Gerry was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed camping, woodworking and spending time with his grandchildren.

He is a veteran having served in the United States Air Force for four years, three of those years were served in Bitburg, Germany.

Gerald was a member of the St. Patrick's Parish in Epworth, IA, and the Epworth John White American Legion Post #650.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra Melssen, of Epworth, IA; three children, Sara (Jay) Upmann, of Stockton, IL, Dawn (Tyson) Yohe, of Wilton, IA, and Eldon (Jodi) Melssen, of Burlington, IA; the pride of his life was his five grandchildren, Cameron and Caeden Upmann, Maxwell and Madelyn Yohe and Carter Melssen; his mother, Mary Ann Melssen of Dickeyville, WI; seven siblings, Mary Jo (Ronald) Lau, of Clarksville, TN, Doris (Harold) Kelly, of Dubuque, Lee Ann Melssen and Linda Morshead, both of Polk City, IA, Donald Melssen, of Phoenix, AZ, Henry Melssen, of Dickeyville, WI, and David (Rita) Melssen, of Dickeyville, WI; one sister-in-law, Ellen LaPage, of Dyersville, IA; one brother-in-law, Harvey (Beta) King, of Epworth, IA.

He is preceded in death by his father Henry A. Melssen; grandparents, Charles and Josephine Kieler and Leo and Barbara Melssen; one sister-in-law, Mary Lou King, and one brother-in-law, John LaPage.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Tuesday, February 9, 2016