Melanie Waldroff

On the morning of February 21, 2025, Melanie Jean Waldroff (Nana) passed away surrounded by her husband and children. Nana entered the kingdom of Heaven freed from pain and greeted by family and friends including her Mom, Dad, Gramps, Grandpa and Grandma Waldroff, brother-in-law Glenn, and many others.

 The things Nana loved most in life were God, family, friends, and Elvis. Nana was born on October 27, 1953 in Kansas City, KS, to John H. Salzman and Laura Jean Harrison (Richey).

Nana grew up in Platte City, MO in a house built by her Dad. She was a 1971 graduate of Platte City High school. She worked for the Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, retiring after 28 years of service. She married Robert E. Waldroff on October 9, 1976, and he survives the home. Also surviving are daughter Stacy R. Anderson (Chris) and son Shawn E. Waldroff (Crystal), sister Karen K. Butts, niece Mendy Stephens (Shane), nephew John C. Butts, and one of her greatest sources of joy, her grandchildren: Damon E. Bottorff, Dominic M. Bottorff (her dooder bug), Donovan L. Bottorff (Athena), Caleb E. Waldroff, and Conor E. Waldroff, Austin Anderson, Kylie Anderson, Cody Anderson; other relatives and friends.

In her life Nana was many things including wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker, co- worker, cook, gardener, traveler, and fantasy football savant. Upon having children, she paused her career to focus on raising her family. She loved traveling near and far with her husband, Bob, and going to the movies, plays, concerts, and festivals. Later on she would return to working for the state of Missouri, where she made many lifelong friends.

One of her favorite things were “family reunion” Sundays, where family would gather at Nana and Papa’s house to enjoy Nana’s cooking, swimming, and catching up with each other. Nana was also a gamer, with many hours spent playing the Super Nintendo cooperatively with her son, Shawn, and later games on her tablet. She supported her daughter, Stacy, in Girl Scouts while growing up, and could frequently be heard discussing new television shows they were watching together.

She enjoyed watching sports and could be found cheering on the Chiefs whenever they played surrounded by family. She recently took up fantasy football, and won the family league championship in only her second year playing. Nana showed no mercy against her opponents, and was a fierce trash talker.

After retirement, Nana lived for spending time with her grandchildren. She was their greatest cheerleader in all activities, never missing an event. From watching Damon’s band performances, Dominic’s basketball games, Donovan’s soccer games, Cody’s football games, Caleb’s football and wrestling, Conor’s swimming, and any activity they were involved in, you would find Nana cheering among the crowd. She also enjoyed hanging by the pool at Stacy’s with Austin, Kylie, and Cody. Her influence will forever live on through her grandchildren and shaping the fine young adults they have become.

Nana was dependable, and always put the needs of others ahead of her own. She was the best listener. She was soft spoken, but when she spoke it was words worth hearing. She was a quiet soul, who wasn’t always the life of the party, but a party didn’t have the same life without her. Her laughter, smiles, comforting words, and hugs are just a few of things that will be missed most.

Nana loved the Lord and studying the Bible, and her faith only grew stronger over the years. In 2023, she completed the Bible in-a-year reading plan. She attended the First Baptist Church in Stewartsville, MO, where she was thankful to find a new church home and family. She was active in Sunday School and the Women’s Bible groups. When asked she would tell her favorite Bible verse from the Book of John: “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:2-6)

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the First Baptist Church of Stewartsville, The American Cancer Society, or a charity of your choice

Services will be Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 2:00 pm at Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel.  Visitation will precede the service beginning at 1:00 pm at the funeral home.