Obituary of Wilbur L. Mellenthin

Wilbur L. “Pete” Mellenthin Age 80, of Spencer, passed away Thursday morning, December 20, 2012 at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield with his loving family by his side. His funeral services will be held at 2PM on Sunday, December 23, 2012 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Spencer. Pastor Rebekah Tarras will officiate. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery in the town of Brighton. Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 22, 2012 from 4PM until 8PM and again on Sunday at the church from 1PM until time of services. Acting as pallbearers will be Troy Luepke, Ryan Thomas, Rudy Nieman, Lucas Mellenthin, Brandon Kopp, Aaron Egner, Ryan Griepentrog, and Liam Connelly. Acting as honorary pallbearers will be his granddaughters. Life Tributes Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Spencer is assisting the family. Pete was born March 31, 1932 in the Town of Unity to the late Albert and Elsie (Schroeder) Mellenthin. He attended a country school and graduated from Spencer High School. On June 3, 1952 Pete married the former VirJean Weis in the parsonage at Christ the King Catholic Church. Pete and Jean renewed their vows at St. John’s Lutheran Church for their 50th wedding anniversary in 2002. Pete purchased the family homestead and continued his lifelong career as an owner/operator of the dairy farmer. While working the family farm he was also a carpenter and built numerous homes in the community. Later Pete also drove school bus in the area. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Spencer, a member of the NFO and the local 4-H Club, and a charter member of the FFA. He was a Sunday school teacher for 42 years and also the Sunday school superintendent. Pete along with his devoted wife VirJean were responsible for raising and caring for 26 foster children. Pete was an active and dedicated member of the Spencer Vol. Fire Department for over 53 years with 10 years spent operating the Spencer Fire Department Garage Sale, which raised funds for the fire dept. Pete was a very dedicated man and his family and religion were the very most important part of his life and all of those wonderful memories will be with his family forever. He is lovingly survived by his wife VirJean of Spencer, his children: Gwen (Denny) Thomas of Marshfield; Janine (Bruce) Luepke of Spencer; Randy (Melody) Mellenthin of Unity; Janell (Dennis) Kopp of Loyal and Geana (Kevin) Connelly of Chicago, Illinois; his grandchildren: Troy (Maria) Luepke; DeAnn (Ryan) Griepentrog; Ryan (Kelly) Thomas; Crystal Schillinger; Dana (Aaron) Egner; Luke (Liz) Mellenthin; Brandon Kopp; Allison Mellenthin; Mikayla Kopp; Liam and Grace Connelly. Pete is further survived by 13 great grandchildren; and a foster son: Rich (Jenny) Niemen along with many other relatives and friends. Pete was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, two sisters, a niece and a grandson; Jacob Kopp. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial be given to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Spencer or Misericordia Home: Misericordia Heart of Mercy, Attn: Sister Rosemary Connelly, 6300 North Ridge Avenue, Chicago, IL. 60660 A special thank you to the hospitalists, palliative care physicians especially Dr. Claessen and Dr, Okon and the wonderful nurses with angel wings. Visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com to share memories and condolences.