Melvin Enge

December 1925 - July 2014 Melvin Charles Enge, known as Merlin to family, passed on peacefully to his eternal reward on Wednesday, July 16, 2014. He was born in Winnipeg on December 20, 1925 and moved with his mother Clara Dimit and grandparents to the Rainy River District at an early age. Working around Pinewood in 1950, he met his wife Jessie Hickerson when she started teaching in the area. They married on August 25, 1956 and were inseparable throughout life, totally dedicated to and supportive of each other. In 1959 he and Jessie adopted sons William and Edward and forged a deeply bonded family unit. Melvin provided an ideal role model for his sons to emulate. He relished his times together with his boys, grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as with his many in-laws, nieces and nephews in his and Jessie's extended families. He also very much enjoyed frequent coffee shop camaraderie with his good buddies and acquaintances, discussing equipment, current events and other goings on. Melvin was always a kind, considerate and gentle person with a friendly demeanour and a good sense of humour. He lived with integrity and a 'pedal to the metal' approach to everything, being a very hard worker in all his endeavours. Throughout his career he enjoyed operating trucks and heavy equipment. He worked for a number of employers on the farm, in mining and in forestry before getting his own trucks, loaders and a dozer to establish Enge Enterprises. He was actively having fun in his Eva Lake area gravel pit until shortly before his passing. Melvin is survived by his wife Jessie; sons Bill (Linda) and Ed (Heather); brothers Charlie (Mary) Mason, Leslie Mason and Henry (Mary) Mason; sisters Eileen (Stan) Zajac and Maxine Bell; seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; plus numerous brothers and sisters-in-law (members of the Hickerson clan) and many loving nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother Clara Mason; step-father Jack Mason; brothers Ray Enge and George Enge; daughter-in-law Lynn Enge; and by infant great granddaughter Samantha.A Memorial Service to celebrate his life will be held at the Riverview United Church in Atikokan at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 2nd. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Atikokan General Hospital Foundation or to a charity of your choice. "