Marty Melcher
Marty R. Melcher, 52, of rural Lansing died Monday, February 18, 2019 as a result of an automobile accident in rural Lansing. Funeral services were held Monday, February 25 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial was at Old East Paint Creek Cemetery, rural Waterville.
Marty Roger Melcher was born August 12, 1966 in Waukon, the son of Roger and Karen (McCormick) Melcher. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Ann’s-St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry, attended Waterville Elementary School and graduated from Waukon High School in 1984.
After Marty graduated, he worked for three years with the RE Thomason Harvesting combine crew out of Eldorado, OK. Marty moved back to the Waukon area and went to work for Equity Co-op in Waukon, where he perfected his spraying skills and valued the connection he had with the farmers he sprayed for.
May 2, 1992, he married Lisa Dee at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon. For the past 15 years, Marty has worked for Kruger Farms, driving semi and spraying. He loved his work and the challenge of sprayer calibrations. He also stayed busy helping on the Melcher farms with his uncle, Scott, and his father, Roger.
Marty was a member of Zion United Church of Christ, where he served on the church council. He also participated in CEW. Marty enjoyed reading, playing pool and cards, driving semi, and fixing and repairing anything and everything. He also enjoyed canning, growing hot peppers, and making salsa and tomato juice. Marty loved spending time with family, especially at family get-togethers and helping with the Christmas baking. One of the most important things to Marty was doing the very best he could; “we can do it that way or we can do it the right way.”
Survivors include his wife, Lisa Melcher of Lansing; his children: Cathy (Jonathan) Buhl of Waukon, Ryan Melcher of Lansing and Laura Melcher of Decorah; two grandsons, Connor and Cameron Buhl; his parents, Roger and Karen Melcher of Harpers Ferry; his siblings: Jeff (Sara) Melcher of Waukon, Tom (Jeni) Melcher of Castalia, Jacqui (Scott) VanMinsel of Spring Grove, MN and Brian (Katie) Melcher of Waukon; his nephews and nieces: James (Kelli), Jared (Brianna), Ali, John, Roland and Waylin Melcher, Jacine Johanningmeier, Kendal VanMinsel, Jordan (Peyton) Dee, Angela (Joel) Reyes and Ali Nagel; a great-nephew, Declan Melcher; his father- and mother-in-law, Lyle and Judy Dee; a brother-in-law, Ned Dee; and a sister-in-law, Lacey Nagel. He is preceded in death by an infant son, Steven, and other heavenly babies; a brother-in-law, Jason Johanningmeier; and his grandparents, Leo and Virginia McCormick and John and Virgel Melcher.
Honorary casketbearers were his brothers and sister and his uncles and aunts, Ken and Jan McCormick, Kent and Joan McCormick, Elmo and Sheri Hagen and Scott and Barb Melcher and their families, and dear friends, Jim McCormick and Jim “Ole” Olson. Casketbearers were Joe Keenan, Rob Grangaard, Randy and Brady Kruger, Jeff Knudtson, Corey Hoffmann, Jeff Hamm and Ned Dee.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
