Dorothy M Melin, 80, of Grantsburg, WI passed away peacefully at Regions Hospital on February 16th, 2018.
Dorothy was born on February 22nd, 1937 to William and Mary Jane Olson. Dorothy’s childhood years were spent in Atlas, WI. She attended Alabama Grade School and graduated from Luck High School in 1955. Dorothy attended the Polk County Teacher’s College and graduated in 1957. She taught grade school for the Luck Public Schools at Oak Hill School until 1959 when she married Charles Melin of Grantsburg, WI. They were married at the Little Brown Church in the Vale, Nashua, Iowa in 1959. From this union, four children were born: Debra (Doug) Kunze, Barbara Melin, Eugene Melin, Scott (Amanda) Melin.
Charles and Dorothy farmed for 42 years as a team from 1959 to 2001 on their family farm until they retired. They only took a few days off a year to camp with their family and good friends (Walsten Family). Many life lessons were taught to their children and grandchildren on the farm. This has led her family down the path of what it takes to be dedicated and disciplined.
Dorothy was very talented and loved to cook, bake, sew, quilt, craft, read, fish, watch sports, garden and nurture her flowers. Dorothy took so much pride in her beautiful yard. People always left her house with more wisdom, laughter, knowledge and homemade food whether you were her children, grandchildren, neighbor, mail man, Kirt Cook (who plowed her driveway) or her Dr. Yes, even he received the homemade jellies and treats for her appreciation. She found pleasure in giving and sharing her talents. She loved her family and was always ready to help out whenever or whatever was needed at the time. She loved family gatherings around the campfire with lots of loud laughter. Her family will miss her special birthday cakes that she made for all of them. Her husband, children, grandchildren and her great-grandchildren all have beautiful homemade quilts made by Dorothy’s hands which will forever surround them with her love. She has passed her talents on to her children and grandchildren who are following in her footsteps as well. She was so proud that her daughter-in-law (Amanda) and five grandchildren (Brittney, Brodie, Stephanie, Samantha and Dustin’s wife, Chelsie) who are in the medical profession and those who are currently going into the medical profession as a Nurse Practitioner, Respiratory Therapist and four Registered Nurses to care for others.
She is survived by her husband, Charles Melin of Grantsburg, WI; sisters, Betty Wilson of Cushing, WI and Marjorie Mattson of Atlas, WI; brother, Donald (Kathie) Olson of Hood River, OR; daughters, Debra (Doug) Kunze of Luck, WI and Barbara Melin of Atlas, WI; son, Scott (Amanda) Melin of Hugo, MN; grandchildren, Dustin (Chelsie) Kunze of Bluffton, SC, Brittney (Brody) Woltz of Luck, WI, Brodie Kunze of Duluth, MN, Stephanie Melin and Samantha Melin of Hugo, MN; great-grandchildren, Dawson Kunze and Ashlynn Kunze of Bluffton, SC and Wyatt Woltz of Luck, WI; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, William and Mary Olson; brothers-in-law, Robert Wilson and Howard Mattson; and son, Eugene Melin.
A special thank you goes out to the Cushing First Responders, Luck Ambulance Crew, SCRMC Emergency Department, Dr. Nepson at Osceola Medical Center, and the awesome staff of Doctors and Nurses at Regions Medical Center who treated Dorothy with so much love and respect until the end.
Lots of tears were shed and laughter made as Dorothy’s family gathered around her, held her hands, reminisced and told how much we love her till the end. She gets to visit the ones she once lost, but now has found a more simpler and beautiful place. We will miss making memories with her and eating her awesome home cooked meals. This isn’t a goodbye; it’s a see ya later. We love you and will miss you forever but we know you walk beside us every day.
She loved her family and was always interested to see what they became and so we say to mom:
“You have been the gardener of our lives”
“You have filled our baskets full of Wisdom and Joy”
In respect to Dorothy’s wishes, no formal funeral services will be held. A private memorial service will be held with family at a later date. Dorothy will be laid to rest at the Union Cemetery.
You are invited to leave condolences, memories and photos at
www.rowefh.com . Arrangements are entrusted to Rowe Funeral Home in Luck, 715-472-2444, and the Northwest Wisconsin Cremation Center in Milltown,
www.wicremationcenter.com .
