Maynard John Otto Amelon

Dr. Maynard Amelon D.O. FACOFP Dr. Maynard Amelon was born September 7, 1922 in Truman, Minnesota to Lydia Ritz Amelon and John Carl Amelon. Maynard passed away peacefully in his sleep at 4:30a.m. Friday, August 5, 2016. He was 93. The farming family moved to Missouri and he worked in the fields, harvesting along with his father and siblings, and graduated high school in Centralia with brother Lawrence. Maynard was president of the junior and senior classes in high school. Maynard went to premed at the University of Missouri, Columbia. His education was interrupted by World War II. He served in the US Army as a military police officer for three years in India. He returned to the university and went on to the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. During his four years there, he built and managed the Kirksville trailer court. He was also president of his class. Maynard graduated with the degree of Osteopathic Medicine and then went to Michigan to intern at the Detroit Osteopathic Hospital. It was there that he met the love of his life, Jessie Ellen Wall RN, a surgical nurse. They married in Winnipeg, Canada on August 29, 1952. They settled in Detroit, then built their dream home on a hillside in Southfield, Michigan. Next, Maynard established and built the Kinloch Clinic in Redford where he practiced until he retired in 1999. In his almost 50 years of practicing medicine, he always said, " You can be the best doctor in the world but if you're not available, you're not worth a damn!" He would answer his office phone, "old country doctor here", he worked Sundays after church and still made house calls. He had the gift of healing people when others couldn't find a diagnosis. People also traveled far and wide to get a back treatment from this devoted Osteopathic Physician. He was a Fellow of the American Collage of Osteopathic Family Physicians (FACOFP). His wonderful staff fondly remember him as the best boss they ever had. Maynard retired to Sun City, Palm Desert, California where they soon added many new beloved friends. In his retirement, he attends Hope Lutheran Church. For many years, he enjoyed meeting up with a great group of buddies for coffee and conversation. He also enjoyed meeting friends for coffee after tai chi at the Sun City Mountain View clubhouse. In Michigan, Maynard took on many leadership roles, although he never sought them out. He was president of the Wayne County Osteopathic Physicians. He served on so many committees, one of which was to add fluoride to the Detroit water system. He was president of the Boys Club of Redford. During that year, girls were allowed to join and it became the Boys & Girls Club of Redford. He was a faithful member of the Grace Lutheran Church in Redford and became president of the Church Council. He was on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Osteopathic Association, serving as president in 1974 -1975. He was very involved, along with his wife Jessie, in starting the Michigan College of Osteopathic Physicians, first in Pontiac and moving to the campus of Michigan State University in Lansing. He served as President for 10 years of the Michigan College Foundation , working diligently to make it a world-class Foundation. Upon retiring from the Michigan Osteopathic College board, his five daughters presented him with a gold medallion and chain engraved, "The Greatest Father". He was co-chairman of the Redford's Bicentennial committee creating much interest statewide due to the raffle of a DeLorean car. The funds were used to dress up Redford's Town Hall by adding tall white pillars to the front, and a grand clock on top. He was on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Skating Club and was completely involved in his daughters' skating progress. In a local competition, he entered with four of his skilled daughters in the dancing event. ( The only missing one was, baby Kandi). The girls competed at a national level and all achieved the gold-medal status in the USFSA tests. He belonged to the Huron River Hunting and Fishing Club and the Detroit Golf Club. Governor Millikan appointed Maynard to the state licensing board. He served with complete honesty and fairness to all. He volunteered his time and had a free clinic for school children who needed required shots. He didn't turn anyone away. If they couldn't pay he still took care of them. His patients affectionately called him Doc A. He was an excellent diagnostician, easily telling patients what their problem was. He never forgot his roots of being a farmer in Minnesota and Missouri and would often take his family of five girls and wife Jessie to visit. He loved to drive and would never shy away from taking the family on trips to Winnipeg Canada, Jessie's home city, cross country to California, the Grand Canyon, Sun Valley Idaho, and so many more. His family of five daughters, three son-in-law's and six grandchildren were the joy of his life. He had interest in all of their endeavors. He was proud that daughters Cynthia and Mitzi who followed in his footsteps, becoming Osteopathic Physicians as well. Cynthia graduated from Maynard's alma mater, Kirksville and Mitzi from Michigan State, the school he worked so hard to start up. He followed Debbie's professional career Ice Follies, flying to many cities to watch her skate. He loved watching all five daughters perform together as the Amelon 5 in their many performances in skating shows in Lake Placid,New York, Lansing, Michigan and Sun Valley Idaho. Maynard was so proud of his daughters and his wife Jessie. The girls all graduated from prestigious universities. Cynthia and Mitzi are osteopathic physicians, daughter Debbie is a writer and director of movies and a university professor. Kandi is a TV producer of Oprah and Dr. Phil, and now developing her own shows. Peggy Sue is a realtor in Montana and a railroad engineer. Maynard also wrote a book, "Thoughts of a Doctor," 160 pages of memories and pictures. He gave his book to many friends and family. Maynard and Jessie loved to travel far and wide, enjoying their time together for 64 happy years. They were soulmates. Maynard was loved by all who were fortunate to know him and he returned that love as well. He will be remembered for his unending service to others, his generosity, his great sense of humor and his incredible loving spirit. He lived by his favorite saying, the Golden Rule, "Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You." He wanted to be best remembered for being a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, honest and fair, and a hard worker. Maynard is survived by his wife Jessie, his daughters Cynthia, Deborah, Peggy Sue, Mitzi, and Kandi, sons-in-law Robert, Chris, and John, grandchildren Addison, Walker, Shannon, Devon, Lindsey and Luke, granddaughter-in-law Gabrielle, niece Sharon, nephews Rick, Joe, Warren, and Stan, cousins Florence, Lorraine, Eleanor, Dorothy, Janice and Elaine. Maynard was a loving and devoted brother. He had three brothers, Rowland (Betty), Lawrence and Donald (Rhonda), and a sister Ruth (John). They all preceded him in death along with his beloved nephew John Cadwell and beloved niece Adrienne Ptacek, his parents Lydia and Carl Amelon and Jessie's parents Nellie and Clifton Wall. A celebration of life service will be held at noon at Forest Lawn Cathedral City on September 10th, 2016 with reception to follow. Pastor Derek Fossey will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Michigan State Osteopathic College Foundation or the A. T. Still Osteopathic College in Kirksville, Missouri would be greatly appreciated. Messages of condolences may be posted at Tributes.com The family would like to thank the caring staff, doctors & nurses who cared for Maynard in his final days.