Haskovec, Melvin William1941 - 2024

KASKOVEC, ROMAN, BRIDEN, URBANOWSKI, VASEY, MOONEY, SIZEMORE, MABE, HEDEEN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 10/12/2024 at 16:18:09

Melvin W. Haskovec, 82, of Waukon, IA, passed away Monday, October 7, 2024, at home surrounded by family and friends after a three-year journey with pancreatic cancer. Memorial services will be held Friday, October 11th, at 11:00 AM at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Karla Johnson officiating. Friends may greet the family from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, Crossing Rivers Hospice in Prairie du Chien, or to the Allamakee Scholarship Fund.

Melvin William Haskovec was born October 12, 1941, in Howard County, IA, the son of William and Alice (Roman) Haskovec. He attended country school through 8th grade and graduated from Elma Public High School in 1960. He then earned his B.A. and teaching certificate in biology, chemistry, and history from Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA. In 1964, Mel began teaching 7th and 8th grade science for Allamakee Community Schools in Waterville. In 1967, he was assigned to teach science at the new junior high school in Waukon, where he taught 8th grade science and then 9th grade physical science. Mel received the honor of being named Outstanding Young Educator by the Jaycees. He continued his education at Winona State University while teaching, earning a Master’s degree in 1973. Mel taught for 43 years, retiring in 2007, and substituting for five more years. He also enjoyed coaching junior high wrestling for 31 years and in 1995, was named Iowa Junior High Coach of the year.

In 1974, he and Edna Briden were joined in marriage and were blessed with three children: Melena, Beth, and Bill. Family was always the most important aspect of his life. Next was his love of fishing and the outdoors, teaching, and gardening (in that order). His three children and three grandsons brought immense joy and fulfillment to his life. Highlights included a month-long family camping vacation out west, many camping weeks at Backbone State Park, and a trip to Alaska with his daughter to see the beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife. His love of fishing meant he fished almost all the rivers and streams in Northeast Iowa over 60 years, catching several trophy sized trout and small mouth bass. Mel was also a lifelong Cubs fan. He got a lot of enjoyment in feeding the birds and wildlife in their backyard in southwest Waukon, right up until the time of his death. He was also proud of the perennial flowerbeds he planted by the garden and house. He enjoyed working in their large garden; he and Edna canned and froze vegetables, giving the surplus to friends, neighbors, and the food shelf.

Mel is survived by Edna, his wife of 50 years, of Waukon; daughters: Melena (Jesse) Urbanowski of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Elizabeth Haskovec of Milwaukee, WI; son William (Ashley) Haskovec of Urbandale, IA; grandsons: William and James Urbanowski and Briden Haskovec; his brother Gerald Haskovec of Cresco, IA; sisters-in-law: Jane Briden, Deloris Vasey, Joan and Marilyn Mooney, Ada Sizemore, and Arlis Mabe; an aunt Merle Hedeen; and a number of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; father and mother-in-law Richard and Evelyn Briden; brothers-in-law: David Briden, Floyd and Don Mooney, and Robert Vasey; and cousin Rob Roman.

Honorary urnbearers are Mel's three grandsons and his brother Gerald.