Melvin H Abraham

Memorial Services for Melvin H. "Mel" Abraham will be on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church located at the Nebraska Prairie Museum in Holdrege, Nebraska. Inurnment will take place prior to services at 9:30 a.m. at the Freewater Cemetery near Ragan, Nebraska, with Military Honors provided by the Martin-Horn American Legion Post # 66 in conjunction with the United States National Guard Military Honors Team.

Melvin Hollertz Abraham, 90 years of age of Salem, Oregon, passed away on Saturday, October 27, 2012, in Salem, Oregon. Mel was born June 27, 1922 in Ragan, Nebraska to Walter Andrew and Ellen Amanda (Hollertz) Abraham. He was raised on the family farm.

On March 9, 1945 Mel was inducted into the Army. He was trained as a medic and was stationed in Hawaii during the war, until his honorable discharge.

In 1948, Mel was united in marriage to Joan Taylor of Halsey, Oregon. To this union three children were born: Dale, Janet and Cathy.

Mel owned and operated the Valley Lumber Company in Halsey for 25 years. He also served as the Halsey City Recorder, was a Halsey City Councilman for ten years, and the Mayor of Halsey for four years. Mel served as a Volunteer Fireman for 30 years and served six years on the Halsey Planning Commission and Building Board. When Mel was Mayor of Halsey, he was instrumental in getting the Paper Mill to locate near Halsey. He was a member of the I.O.O.F., the Elks Lodge, and a lifetime member of the American Legion.

Later in life, Mel was united in marriage to Dorothy (Fielder) Wondree in McMinnville, Oregon.

He enjoyed family genealogy, bowling, golfing, woodworking, fishing, hunting and traveling. He especially enjoyed traveling to research his family's roots in Germany and Sweden. In his later years of life, Mel resided in McMinnville and Salem, Oregon.

Mel was preceded in death by his parents; brothers-in-law: Ben Haberkorn and Don McCaig, along with many cousins.

Mel is survived by his three children: son, Dale Abraham and his wife, Dora of Salem, Oregon; two daughters, Janet Abraham and Cathy Nelson and her husband, Larry, all of Albany, Oregon; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; one brother, Merle Abraham and his wife, Carol of Salem; two sisters: Marie Haberkorn of Santa Anna, California and Ellenirean McCaig of Virginia Beach, Virginia; cousins: Gloria Bryan and RoseAnn Swanson both of Holdrege, LaMonte Hollertz of Elm Creek, Nebraska, and Leone Heldenbrand or Aurora, Colorado.

There will be no visitation. The family honored his wish for cremation.

A memorial has been established and can be made to the National Right to Life.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangement.