Melvin Tesch (1923-2012)

RICHTER, AHLES, REIDEMANN, JACOBSON, SMITH, URBALEJO, HANSEN, BENNER

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 11/16/2016 at 13:40:34

Melvin Henrich Theodor Edwin Richter, the son of Paul and Mary (Ahles) Richter was born on July 12, 1923 in Granville, Iowa. He was baptized on July 22, 1923 and confirmed on April 10, 1938 at St. John Lutheran Church in Germantown. He attended St. John Lutheran School in Germantown.

In March of 1944, he was inducted into the Army and served in the Battle of the Bulge under the leadership of General Patton. During the battle, Melvin suffered injuries. In May of 1946, he received a medical discharge.

On June 27, 1948, Melvin was united in marriage to Delores Riedemann at St. John Lutheran Church in Germantown. To this union four children were born; Richard, Rita, Linda and Paul. After their marriage they lived in Spencer, Iowa where Melvin delivered Nesbitt’s pop in a large area. In 1951, they returned to O’Brien County where they started farming. On June 27, 1968, they purchased their farm seven miles south of Hartley. Melvin also worked for a Spencer packing plant for fourteen years while farming.

Melvin retired in 1994 and the couple moved to Primghar till Melvin’s health began to decline. Melvin entered Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley on February 15, 2011 where he passed away on Sunday, October 7, 2012 reaching the age of 89 years, 2 months and 25 days.

He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. He enjoyed tending to his large garden, going to farmers market, camping, cooking, and wintering in Arizona. The couple enjoyed working at the Clay County Fair in Spencer for ten years. They enjoyed to travel as they toured Europe in 1988 and in 2005 went on the Veterans tour of Washington D.C.

Melvin is survived by his wife, Delores of 64 years; three children, Richard and his wife, Carmen Richter of Cherokee, Iowa; Rita and her husband, Tim Jacobson of Sioux City, Iowa and Linda and her husband, Russ Smith of Hibbing, Minnesota; three grandchildren, Paul of Larabee, Iowa; Jennifer and her husband, Dustin Urbalejo of Cherokee, Iowa and Ryan and his wife, Meagan Jacobson of Indianola, Iowa; five great grandchildren, Adam Richter, Brynn Smith, Madden Urbalejo, Cooper and Paige Jacobson; two sisters, Helen Hansen of Evansdale, Iowa and Delores Benner of Henderson, Nevada; also other relatives and friends.

Melvin is preceded in death by a son, Paul in infancy; three brothers, Luverne, Lawrence and Leonard Richter; and his parents.

From Eldridge Funeral Home