SHAHAN, Melvin Grant 1926-2015

SHAHAN, WELKER, JERMIER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/3/2015 at 15:34:04

Melvin Shahan

Date Of Birth: March 15, 1926
Date Of Death: April 1, 2015

Service Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at 10:30 a.m.

Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church
Visitation one hour prior to the service at the church.

Melvin Shahan, 89, of Charles City, died Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at Cedar Health in Charles City where he had resided the past two years.

A funeral service for Melvin Shahan will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Charles City. Pastor Dennis Niezwaag will officiate. Burial will be at Sunnyside Memory Gardens in rural Charles City.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.

Melvin Grant Shahan, the son of Warren and Mayme (Welker) Shahan, was born on March 15, 1926 in Adair County, Iowa. He married Dorothy Irene Jermier on February 10, 1945 while being stationed in Oakland California during his enlistment in the U.S. Navy.

Dorothy passed away on February 11, 2007, one day after celebrating their 62nd wedding anniversary. The couple moved to Charles City in 1946, raised their family and spent the rest of their married life there. Mel was a mill operator at White Farm Equipment and retired after 30 plus years of employment.

Mel was one of the founding members of the Family Community Credit Union and was a proud member of the U.A.W., American Legion, Moose Lodge, Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church and also served as president of the Senior Center of Charles City for many years.

Mel loved his family, friends, fishing and enjoyed many years at their summer home in Lansing, Iowa. He always had a smile on his face, was the first to volunteer for whatever you needed and enjoyed visiting with everyone. Mel had a green thumb and had some of the most beautiful geraniums around (some of them still grace the home of one of his grandsons).

Living family members include his daughter, Terry Hansen of Waterloo; a very special granddaughter and his caregiver for the past eight years, Leslie (Doug) Lensing of Charles City; daughter-in-law, Beth Shahan of Charles City; eight grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; sister, Eloise Geater of Independence; two brothers: Allen (Janice) Shahan of Winterset and Donald (Marilyn) Shahan of Cedar Rapids; along with many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dorothy; son, Tommy Shahan; son-in-law, Dewitt Hansen; sister, Velma Erwin; and two brothers: Dale Shahan and Lyle Shahan.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorials be directed to the family at 520 Independence Avenue, Waterloo, IA 50703, Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church or Saint Croix Hospice New Hampton.

Source: Hauser Funeral Home website, 3 APR 2015