Obituaries
Melvin B. Zuehlke
April 28, 1925 - November 10, 2018
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VISITATION
November 14, 2018 | 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday - Yurs Funeral Home St. Charles
- November 15, 2018 | 10:00 A.M. Thursday
- Lord of Life Lutheran Church
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Burial Location
Garfield Cemetery
Obituary
Melvin B. Zuehlke
Melvin B. Zuehlke died peacefully at his St. Charles, IL home on November 10, 2018 at the age of 93 in the company of loving family members after a yearlong battle with cancer.
Mel was born on April 28, 1925, on a dairy farm in Arpin, WI to Julius and Hilda Zuehlke. He enlisted in the army in 1943. The army enrolled him in engineering studies at Providence College. Finding a more urgent need for infantrymen in Europe; they gave him a rifle. He landed at Utah beach several months after the initial invasion. He received several combat ribbons and the Purple Heart for wounds received in France and Luxembourg.
After the war he attended the University of Wisconsin; graduating in 1950 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He worked as a process engineer in the steel, fiber, and plastic industries. He retired in 1988 from Hawley Products Company in St. Charles.
He married Beatrice Vladesov at First Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Chicago on October 8, 1955. They had three sons, Julius, Paul, and Timothy. The family moved to a house in St. Charles in 1966, where he spent the rest of his life. Bea died in 2004.
Mel enjoyed a long retirement that included traveling with Bea and volunteering with local charities. He was an avid bicyclist, enjoyed cross country skiing, and was a passionate gardener.
Mel is survived by brother Erv (late Joan); sons Julius (Debbie), Paul, and Tim (Gwen); grandchildren, Danielle (Gerardo), Erik, and Takoda; and great-granddaughter, Gianna. He is preceded in death by his wife, Beatrice; and brother Don (Lorraine).
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm Wednesday, Nov. 14, at Yurs Funeral Home, 405 E. Main Street St. Charles, IL. Funeral will be at 10:00 am Thursday at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Route 38 and LaFox Road, Elburn, IL.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Lord of Life Lutheran Church in LaFox Illinois (www.lolchurch.net) or the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch (www.dakotaranch.org).
For information please call Yurs Funeral Home 630-584-0060
Condolences
Dave zuehlke from Dublin, OH
"We have lots of great memories of uncle Mel and family. He was a great role model with all he did. A real active person with all his volunteering, bike riding and gardening. Ours prayers and thoughts are with him and the family. Dave and Carrie Zuehlke"
Rick Willing from Bartlett, IL
"Julius/Paul/Tim, I had the pleasure of talking with your dad last winter. He walked over for Saturday night service all bundled up. I offered to give him a ride home but he was too much in keeping young at heart. It was great to see him and catch up on the family. He was very proud of all of you. What a gentleman he was. I will always remember him as man of humble wisdom and a great faith. Never forget him as our Sunday school teacher in the old St. Mark's overflow rooms. May the Lord bless you and comfort you."
Don Shaw from Wellington, FL
"Mel was one of the kindest people that I have ever met. I had him as a Sunday School teacher in grade school at St. Mark's Lutheran Church. God Bless and keep Mel, Bea, Julius, Paul and Tim."