Melvin H. Koelzer
Melvin H. Koelzer,
68, of Corning, KS, died Monday, January 1, 2001, shortly after arrival
at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca, KS. His death was
due to an apparent heart attack.
He was born November 22, 1932, on a farm south of Seneca, the son of
Lawrence and Anna Weber Koelzer. He attended St. Patrick's School and
helped on the family farm. In 1955 he entered the US Army where he served
in Germany as a message carrier. He was discharged in 1957 and returned
to the farm.
On February 7, 1959, he married Gladys Gudenkauf
at Sts. Peter & Paul Church at Seneca. She survives of the home. They
farmed west of Corning, had livestock, and in earlier years, a dairy.
Melvin was semi-retired and continued to help his son, Jerry, with the
farming.
He was a member of St Patrick's Church at Corning
where he served on the church council and was a lay minister for many
years. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus #1769 at Seneca
where he helped with bingo. He also helped with bingo at the American
Legion in Corning, even though he was not a member. Melvin was a volunteer
with the Corning Fire Department for over 20 years and had served as
chairman of the Nemaha County Fire District #2 at Corning. He was a
past president of the St. Patrick's School Parent Teacher Organization.
Survivors besides his wife, Gladys, are a twin son
and daughter, Jerald "Jerry" Koelzer of Corning and Jane Halling of
Lancaster, KS; a brother, Sylvester Koelzer of DuBois, Nebraska; four
sisters, Rita Eisenbarth of Lees Summitt, MO, Lorene Olberding of Baileyville,
KS, Ann Broxterman of Silver Lake, Kansas, Mary Haverkamp of Seneca;
and four grandsons.
The mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. on
Wednesday at St. Patrick's Church at Corning. The burial will be in
the church cemetery, with flag presetation by the Arthur L. Mills Post
of the American Legion of Corning. The rosary will be prayed at the
Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca on Tuesday at 2 P.M. and at 7 P.M.
Memorials may be given for St. Patrick's Church
or for the Corning Emergency Medical Services and sent in care of the
family.