Melvin E. Winkelmann

Funeral Services for Rev. Melvin E. Winkelmann will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, August 27, 2010 at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Larry Booze officiating. Interment will be held at Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.

Melvin E. Winkelmann, 90 years old, of Mesa, Arizona, formerly of Holdrege, went to be in the arms of Jesus on Saturday, August 21, 2010. He was born on April 3, 1920 on a farm near Wauneta, Nebraska. He was the first of four children born to Ernest and Mary (Luntsford) Winkelmann. His family moved to Alberta and Saskatchewan Canada where he was raised until the age of 17-years-old. He then moved with his family to Smith Center, Kansas.

Melvin was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942 from Smith Center, and served as part of the 989th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company. He took part in the Battle of the Bulge and battles that took place in France & Belgium. He served in five countries – England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He was honorably discharged on December 6, 1945 with the rank of Technician 5th Grade.

After the war, he married Phyllis Emily Myers, daughter of George and Inez (Hodgson) Myers, on May 9, 1946. To this union was born three daughters – Violet Jean (1947), Lila Mae (1953) and Judy Kay (1959).

Melvin committed his life to the Lord in 1949 and returned to school to obtain his theology degree and become a minister. He graduated from Miltonvale Wesleyan College, Miltonvale, Kansas, in 1954. He pastored a Sioux Indian Mission in Niobrara, Nebraska, and pastored churches in Tryon, Nebraska, and Plattsmouth, Nebraska. He was also an interim pastor of Pleasant View Church near Wilcox, Nebraska.

Along with ministering, Melvin also worked at Sears Co. and as a Walmart greeter for many years. He retired and went to live with his daughter, Violet and her family, in Mesa, Arizona in 2004.

Those that went before him were his parents and two brothers, Joe and Ernie; his much beloved wife, Phyllis, passed away on November 30, 2000.

He leaves to mourn his passing his three daughters, Violet Rogers and her husband, Dale, Lila Stattler and her husband, Mike and Judy Booze and her husband, Larry; 9 grandchildren: Douglas Rogers, Craig Rogers and his wife, Paloma, Sheralyn Soto and her husband, Adrian, Jeffrey Rogers and his wife, Ana, Timothy Stattler and his wife, Linda, Daniel Stattler and his wife, Lacy, Steven Booze, Bethany Booze, Jana Booze; 7 great-grandchildren: Zachariah Soto, Timothy Soto, Jazmin Vargas, Xavier Rogers, Trevor Stattler, Kalee Stattler, Gavin Stattler; one sister, Lois Stacey and her husband, Ron; one sister-in-law, Ina June Winkelmann; plus many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, August 26, 2010 at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

Memorials may be given to the ministry of your choice.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

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