Henry G. Melzer
HANSKA – Henry G. Melzer, 90, of Hanska died Friday, Oct. 21, 2016 at the Luther Memorial Home in Madelia.
Memorial service will be 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home, SOUTH CHAPEL in New Ulm with Pastor Timothy Anderson officiating. Full military honors will be conducted at the funeral home by the New Ulm Area Comrades of Valor Honor Guard. A light supper will follow the service at the funeral home. Burial will be later in the Lutheran Cemetery in New Ulm.
Visitation will be 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home, South Chapel in New Ulm. To leave an online condolence for his family or to sign the guestbook go to: www.mvfh.org
Henry G. Melzer, Jr. was born on May 29, 1926 and was the second son of Henry A. and Gertie Melzer of rural Hanska. He spent his youth working on the family farm. He graduated from Madelia High School in 1944 and joined the U.S. Navy at age 18.
He was stationed in San Francisco during World War II and worked on a ship that swept the Pacific Ocean for land mines. Upon his death he was the oldest member of the Oscar O. Haugen American Legion Post 0365 in Hanska, Minnesota.
After serving his country, Henry joined the family farm operation and became the manager of the Melzer dairy herd. Henry, along with his father and brothers Jerold and Arden farmed 700 acres of land in Linden Township and over the years they also raised purebred Spotted hogs, Holstein dairy and Hereford beef cattle, Percheron horses and Dalmatian dogs. The Melzers were proud, innovative, successful and respected farmers.
Henry served in leadership positions with the Farmers Co-op of Hanska, Hanska Cooperative Shipping Association, Linden Lutheran Church, American Legion Post 0365, the VFW and was the long-time sales manager for the Minnesota Spotted Swine Association.
In 2006 Henry moved off the farm and into Luther Memorial Home due to severe neuropathy. He was a friendly resident at the Luther Home and he always had a bowl of “mini bars” for the wonderful people that took care of him. He enjoyed visits from many friends, neighbors and clergy during his years at the Home.
He especially enjoyed spending time with area children at Halloween. He was an avid news reader and until recently read five newspapers a week and various news, farm and business magazines. He was extremely dedicated to his physical therapy, which kept him on his feet much longer than any of his doctors had predicted.
His nephews called him the ideal uncle who was always ready to throw a ball, have a laugh and share a bottle of pop and a candy bar. Henry was sweet, in many ways.
Henry Melzer was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Jerold and Arden; sister LaVerne and nephews Darrel Johnson and Dale Johnson. He is survived by his nephew Howard Melzer and his wife Christie, nephew Jim Melzer and his wife Christine, great-nephew Jeremy Melzer and great-niece Megan Melzer and her wife Tristia. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred.