Francis Duane Melby 1934-2011

MELBY CLINE PRICE

Posted By: Connie J Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/28/2011 at 14:39:29

Sioux City Journal
27 January 2011

SOLDIER, Iowa -- Duane "Champ" Melby, 76, of Soldier passed away Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011, at his residence.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Soldier Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Jay Denne and the Rev. Jason Cooper officiating. Burial will be in Soldier Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Family Care Service in Onawa, Iowa. Condolences may be left on line for the family at www.rushfamilycareservice.com.

Francis Duane Melby was born Feb. 26, 1934, in Ute, Iowa, the son of Arnold and Vesta (Price) Melby. He attended school in Soldier. He was a lifelong farmer and also was employed at I.B.P. in Denison, Iowa, for nearly 20 years.

Duane and Myrna Cline were united in marriage on Feb. 20, 1954, in Omaha. The couple made their home in Soldier, where they farmed until Duane's retirement from the family farm in 2010.

He was a member and past board member of Soldier Lutheran Church. He enjoyed playing pool when he was younger and also enjoyed antique cars, Sudoku puzzles and watching Wheel of Fortune. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife, Myrna of Soldier; seven children, William Melby of Omaha, Sue Melby of Harcourt, Iowa, Pat (Betty) Melby of Dunlap, Iowa, Jody (Marty) Heffernan of Eagle Grove, Iowa, Kelly Melby of Omaha, Bob (Sharon) Melby of Denison, Iowa, and Shelly Ullman of Mechanicsville, Va.; 11 grandchildren, Amber and Ashley Sturtz, Nick Melby, Kadie (Jeff) Yanak, Kyle Heffernan, Hanna Heffernan, Tyler Braasch, Dillon and Cody Melby and Ben and Madison Ullman; three great-grandchildren, Abagail Melby and Zoey and Maggie Yanak; and a sister, Sharon (Bill) Markey of Lake Oswego, Ore.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandparents, Bill and Doris Price and Adolph and Lena Melby; and a brother and his wife, Virgil and Janet Ehlers.