MELCHER, Phyllis Eileen (nee Anderson) (Dunkin) 1922-2009

MELCHER, ANDERSON, DUNKIN, LUND

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/18/2009 at 17:08:23

Service:
10:30 AM - Thursday, February 19, 2009
Hauser Funeral Home
1205 South Main St.
Charles City, IA 50616

Phyllis Melcher, 86, of Charles City, died on Sunday, February 15, 2009, at Cedar Health in Charles City.

Phyllis Eileen Anderson Dunkin Melcher was born December 5, 1922, at Rush City, Minn., the daughter of Harry and Aleda (Lund) Anderson. The family moved to Minneapolis, Minn. while she was an infant. She grew up in Minneapolis where she graduated from South High School. Phyllis attended and was confirmed at the Elim Covenant Church. Following high school graduation she worked in Saint Paul for the Montgomery Ward Company in their billing department.

On May 10, 1942, she was united in marriage to Harold W. Dunkin. Harold was killed on December 19, 1944 during World War II and is buried in Saint Avold, France. Their daughter Judy was born to this union.

It was on August 14, 1947, that Phyllis was married to Oscar Melcher at her parent’s home in Minneapolis. To this marriage two sons, Lloyd and Gayle and a daughter, Darcy were born. Oscar and Phyllis began their married life on the Melcher family farm, which has been a family farm since the land was purchased in 1868. Phyllis enjoyed being a farm wife. She was also an experienced seamstress, sewing clothes for her family and making wedding gowns for both of her daughters. After her daughter Darcy started junior high school, Phyllis went to work in the kitchen of the Floyd County Memorial Hospital. There she was responsible for the making of salads for the patients and the hospital cafeteria.

Phyllis was a member of the West Saint Charles United Methodist Church where she taught both Sunday and Bible School. She was also an active member in the WSCS and the United Methodist Women. Her interests included collecting thimbles and dolls. She enjoyed her many friends, attending the Happy Hour Club, Saint Charles Homemakers, 500 Club, Thursday Coffee Group, Sew and Sews and the South High Alumni. The past two years Phyllis resided at Faith Lutheran Home in Osage and Cedar Health in Charles City. At both facilities Phyllis received loving attention and care. Phyllis will be remembered as a mother devoted to her children and grandchildren.

Living family members include four children, Judith (Robert) "Corky” Coyne of Colorado Springs, Colo., Lloyd Melcher of Floyd, Gayle (Joy) Melcher of Osage and Darcy (Tracy) Mullenbach of Osage; seven grandchildren, Kristian (Jaenette) Coyne, Nathan ( Kelly), Emily and Jordan Melcher, and Becca, Hanna and Kyle Mullenbach; two sisters, Doris Sharp of Charles City and Joyce Droel of Northfield, Minn.; and a brother, Leslie (Lorraine) Anderson of Minneapolis, Minn.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Harold Dunkin and Oscar Melcher who died on November 8, 1991; and two brothers, Wendell and Willard Anderson

[Hauser Funeral Home obituary]

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