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Gilbert W. Melcher Sr
1903 - 1962
Melcher, Gilbert W., b.
OBIT
- 3 Jan 1962 Watertown
Daily Times
Gilbert
W. Melcher, one of the leading progressive farmers in this community, was
stricken with a heart attack last night and died in his wife's arms on the
living room floor of their home in R3, town of Watertown.
Mr.
Melcher had been outside to check on some livestock after spending the evening
at home, came back into the house and complained that his breathing was
becoming difficult. He again stepped
outside to get some air, then returned and said the difficulty was growing more
pronounced. His wife summoned the fire
department squad to administer oxygen but this proved fruitless and he died
after collapsing on the floor.
Mr.
Melcher had been active in rural and township affairs, with a special interest
in 4-H club work. He had served as
chairman of the Agricultural Stabilization Committee of the town of Watertown
and was also a tractor leader in 4-H circles.
He was
extremely interested in young people and in the promotion of club work. He possessed a faculty for making friends
wherever he went and was well liked and held in high esteem.
Mr.
Melcher was born in the town of Ixonia on
Survivors
are his wife, two daughters, Judy, now Mrs. Earl Reu, R2, Fort Atkinson, Miss
Susan Melcher, at home and one son, Gilbert Dean Melcher, R3. Other survivors are two brothers, Armund, Ixonia, and Martin, R1, Ixonia, as well as one
sister, Mrs. Alli Mallow, R1, Ixonia.
Mr.
Melcher was a director of Pure Milk Products.
He was a member of St Mark's Lutheran Church in Watertown.
Funeral
services will be at the church on Friday at
Interment
will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Eva L. Melcher
1906 - 2008
FORT ATKINSON
- Eva L. Melcher, formerly of Watertown, passed away Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, at
the age of 102.
The
former Eva Hilker was born on Dec. 27, 1906, in the
town of Watertown, daughter of Herman and Minnie (Deegan) Hilker. She was raised on the family homestead and
continued to live there after her marriage to Gilbert Melcher at St. Paul's
Church in the town of Ixonia in 1928.
Eva
and Gilbert farmed the Hilker homestead in the town
of Watertown until his death in 1962.
Eva remained on the farm with her son, Dean, until 1969 when she made
her home with her eldest daughter, Judith, and her husband, Earl Reu, in the
Hebron area.
Eva
had been a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Watertown and then a member
of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Fort Atkinson.
She was a 1922 graduate of Watertown High School, attended Hoffman's
Business College in Milwaukee, and was a graduate of Whitewater Normal School,
now the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
She had been a one room school teacher for many years and is still
fondly remembered by former pupils.
Eva
was a founding member of the Pipersville Home-makers, past chairman of the town
of Watertown Cancer Drive, and a longtime 4-H leader in the Farmington
All-Stars 4-H Club and in Jefferson County, including past president of the
Jefferson County 4-H Leaders' Association.
She was also a member of the Bark River Woods Historical Society, Fort
Atkinson Historical Society where her family's restored cutter is displayed, Jefferson
County Retired Educators, AARP Chapter No. 1682, and SHHH at the University of
Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Eva
loved her award winning flower gardens, and presented many of her handmade
quilled wedding invitation gifts to newly married couples. Eva was very proud of her heritage and had a
remarkable memory of people and events that she readily shared with her family
and friends. Despite her profound
deafness for most of her adult life, she kept well informed by reading and
closed captioned TV, with a keen interest in people, places and events.
She is
survived by three children, Judith (Earl) Reu of Fort Atkinson, G. Dean Melcher
of the town of Watertown and Susan (Larry) Schultz of Watertown; six
grandchildren, James (Maribel) Reu, and Laureen
(Allan) Reu-Liu, and Greg (Kristie) Melcher, Gary (Kris) Melcher, Grant
(Carole) Melcher and Greta Melcher; 11 great-grandchildren, Marie (Peter)
Stoker, Matthew (Heather) Reu, Aria and Marcus Liu, Tyler, Luke and Ryan
Melcher, Lyndsey, Stephanie and Nicole Melcher and Ashley Melcher; numerous
nieces and nephews, including Russell Hilker of
Safety Harbor, Fla.; great-nieces and -nephews; a sister-in-law, Velma Melcher
of Watertown; and special friend, Lucille Hoge Redman
of Fond du Lac.
Eva
was preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert; her sister, Carrie Hamann; and
her daughter-in-law, Kathleen Melcher.
Relatives
and friends may call on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church
in Fort Atkinson.
Funeral
services will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in
Watertown, with visitation from 9 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be in Oak Hill
Cemetery, Watertown.
Those
wishing to express condolences through donations may direct them to St. Paul's
Lutheran Church Stained Glass Window Fund, St. Mark's Hearing Assistance Fund
or Lakeside Lutheran High School in Lake Mills.
A
special thank you is extended to the staff at Fairhaven Retirement Community in
Whitewater for the compassionate care extended to Eva these past four years.
The Nitardy Funeral Home in Fort Atkinson is assisting the
family, nitardyfuneralhome.com.
Nitardy Funeral Home 1008 Madison St.
Fort Atkinson
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin