Melvin B. Detweiler 1926-2006

MILLER, DETWEILER

Posted By: michael (email)
Date: 2/15/2006 at 10:36:15

Melvin B. “Buzz” Detweiler, 79, formerly of Iowa City and a resident of Tipton died Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at Mercy Hospital, Iowa City.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, February 17, 2006 at 2pm at St. Wenceslaus Church with Rev. Michael Phillips officiating. Burial with military honors by the Solon American Legion will be at Memory Gardens. Friends may call Thursday from 4 to 8pm at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, where a Vigil Service will be held at 6pm. Memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice.

Melvin, known as “Buzz”, to friends, was born June 20, 1926 in Thomas, Oklahoma, the son of John & Fannie Miller Detweiler. His parents moved the family to this area in 1940 where he attended school in Wellman. Melvin married Evelyn J. Greazel on November 25, 1947 at St. Wenceslaus Church in Iowa City.

Melvin served in the US Army from 1944 to 46, where he trained in field artillery and Military Police. He was attached to the 777th Military Police at Nuremberg, Germany during the Nuremberg trials.

Melvin had painted with his father, who owned Detweiler Painting Co., and later with Detweiler Bros. Painting. He was then employed by the City of Iowa City in the Parks and Recreation Department, working at City Park and Oakland Cemetery for nineteen years. In 1998 he moved to Tipton.

Melvin was a member of St. Wenceslaus Church and the Solon American Legion. Melvin was a musician who enjoyed played the guitar and the peddle steel guitar in the Merle Travis style. He trained field trial beagles for hunting and spent the leisure time golfing.

Melvin is survived by his son, Dennis (Gayla) Detweiler of Solon and their children Ethan and Seth; his daughter Jeanne (Tim) Morrisey of Tipton and their daughter Angela; three sisters, Cora White of Indiana, Susie (Joe) Stutzman of Goshen, Indiana and Pearl (Tobias) Bontrager of Indianapolis, Indiana; three brothers, Irvin ( Barbara) Detweiler of Pikesville, Tennessee, Ivan (Pat) Detweiler nd Freeman Detweiler, both of Iowa City.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Evelyn, and his siblings Alice, Jane, Mary, Sally, LeRoy, John and Elmer.

Online condolences may be directed to www.lensingfuneral.com