Dinesen, Melvin C. (1913 – 2006)

DINESEN, MESSERSCHMIDT, FOSTER, HESS, LAMBERT, FINLEY, ROGERS

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 8/5/2013 at 13:21:56

Name of deceased: Melvin C. Dinesen

Aged: 93 yrs, 4 mo, 22 days

Residence: Ventura, CA

Born: Jan. 13, 1913, Harlan, IA

Died: June 4, 2006, Oxnard, CA

Funeral services: private family graveside service, Saturday, July 1, 2006, Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA

Survived by: Nieces, Peggy Hess and Susan (spouse, Jerry) Lambert, both of Harlan, IA, and Rebecca (spouse, George) Finley of Lincoln, NE; nephews, Melvin (spouse, Janis) Dinesen of Harlan, IA, Donald (spouse, Chris) Dinesen of Bakersfield, CA, Thomas (spouse, Lilah) Rogers of Mesa, AZ, and Robert Rogers of Soquel, CA

Predeceased by: Parents, Thomas and Martha (nee Messerschmidt) Dinesen; wife, Millie (deceased Feb.17, 1997); brother, Leonard Dinesen; sister, Alice Mae Foster

Education: attended Country School, and attended Harlan High School through Grade 11

Military service: 1933 – 1937, U. S. Navy; 1942 – 1945, Merchant Marines: machinist. Was stationed in the Pacific; learned to sail while stationed in Australia. Honorably discharged, 1945.

Marriage: Mildred (unknown maiden name); additional information not provided

Employment: Mel had a lifelong career in motorcycles, especially building and tuning racing motorcycles. While he and Millie were starting their life together, their only transportation was an Indian motorcycle, which they rode to Harlan, IA, so Millie could meet his family. The couple soon moved to Bakersfield, CA, where Mel worked as a mechanic for Trent’s Motorcycle Shop. In the 1950′s Mel and Millie opened their own shop, Mel Dinesen Motorcycles, where they both worked until their retirement around 1980. Over the years they sold many brands including Indian, AJS, Matchless, Royal Enfield, Parilla, Zundapp, Yamaguchi, and Yamaha.

Hobbies/Interests: For decades, Mel entered motorcycles and took riders to the annual Daytona Florida 200 mile race. In 1972, he realized his highest accomplishment when his Yamaha with rider, Don Emde, won. That win elevated Mel to world class tuner status and Don Emde to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, OH. The motorcycle is now on display in that museum. Though Mel and Millie had no children of their own, they helped dozens of Bakersfield and Kern County, CA, young men realize their racing dreams. Nearly all of these riders stayed in touch with them through the years.

Source: burmeisterjohannsen.com