Rodney "Rod" A. Melroy

Funeral Services for Rodney A. Melroy will be held on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Nora Mendyk officiating. Interment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.

Rodney "Rod" Alan Melroy, 73 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Monday, May 21, 2018, at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney, Nebraska. Rod was born January 26, 1945, in Holdrege, the third of five children born to Willard and Maxine (Pelander) Melroy. Rod received his education from Holdrege Public Schools, and graduated with the class of 1963. Rod's love of athletics began during high school where he was selected for the Shrine Bowl, and was Holdrege's first State Wrestling champion in 1961.  He went on to play football at McCook Community College and later transferred to Kearney State College where he played football and was captain of the wrestling team, qualifying for the 1967 NAIA National Tournament.

On January 18, 1969, he was united in marriage to Marge Peterson in Paxton, Nebraska and to this union three children were born:  Mark, Troy and Allisha.  The family made their home in Holdrege, where Rod engaged in his lifelong passion of construction. In 1973, he started Melroy Construction Company, and for the next 45 years, he built and remodeled homes all over the Holdrege area. Rod was very proud to work alongside his sons and grandsons until his passing.

Rod was a member of the founding board for the Holdrege Optimist Wrestling Club in 1977.  It was a program he oversaw for the next forty years.  He was also the commissioner for the Optimist football program from 1992-2016 and served in several leadership positions on the Optimist Board.  He was also a youth coach for football, wrestling, baseball, and softball. His dedication to the youth of the community was apparent to all through the thousands of hours he contributed to the youth sports programs, over the years. The Optimist's motto, "Bringing Out The Best In Kids", was truly what Rod strived for in each child he helped.  He was awarded for his volunteerism in 1993 as a Kearney Hub Freedom Award winner.

Rod was baptized and confirmed in the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege.  In 2002, he and Marge were inducted into the Huskerland Wrestling Hall of Fame and in 2014, he was inducted into the Phelps County Athletic Hall of Fame. Rod was an avid Holdrege Duster supporter, but his greatest joy was attending his grandchildren's sporting events and activities, rarely missing an event.

Rod was preceded in death by his father, Willard Melroy; two brothers: Kenneth Melroy and James Melroy; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Leonard and Delores Peterson.

He leaves to celebrate his life; his loving wife of 49 years, Marge Melroy of Holdrege; his children:  two sons, Mark Melroy and his wife, Sally and Troy Melroy and his wife Heather, and his daughter, Allisha Melroy all of Holdrege; five grandchildren: Prestin, Ryan, Avery, Addison, and Treven; his mother, Maxine Melroy of Holdrege; two brothers: Dennis Melroy and his wife, Jane of Pratt, Kansas, and Mike Melroy and his wife, Dana of Morgantown, West Virginia; one sister-in-law: Patty Hooker and her husband, Rod of Grand Island; brothers-in-law: Bob Peterson and Steve Peterson; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Rod's honor and will be designated at a later date.

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 arrangements.