MELVIN FLYNN

Melvin Flynn was born June 30, 1925, the son of Michael and Bernice Hamman Flynn. He died Saturday, June 19, 2010, at Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa, at the age of eighty-four.

Melvin was born in Minburn, Iowa. He attended school through his junior year in high school and then left to enlist in the United States Navy. He served from November 1943 to April 1946. Following his honorable discharge as a Radioman Second Class, he returned to finish high school. After that, he worked for the railroad and then the Swift Packing Plant.

On November 4, 1947, Melvin was united in marriage to Loretta Thomas at the United Methodist Church Parsonage in Perry, Iowa. The couple made their home in Perry until moving to Schleswig, Iowa, in 1958. They were blessed with the birth of five children. He worked at Farmland until retirement in 1979 due to an injury to his neck.

He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He enjoyed and was good at family games and cards, especially cribbage. He was an excellent cook. He loved spending time outdoors with activities like gardening (he had a "green thumb"), or fishing and camping at Lake View and Clear Lake. He liked bowling. He was a NASCAR enthusiast and a big fan of racer Ken Schrader. He enjoyed football, whether it was Schleswig High School or the NFL, and he was a loyal Hawkeye fan. A favorite trip he liked to make was driving to Las Vegas to visit niece Diane Groff. When he was younger, he enjoyed rabbits and hunted during the hard times. Shortly after his time of service in the Navy, he received his pilot's license. He was a creative thinker and adapted to his changing disability. For more than 65 years he was a member of the Schleswig V.F.W. and the American Legion. He was excited about and looking forward to becoming a great-grandfather.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Loretta in 2003; one son, Thomas; one grandson, James Barnes; two sisters: Marjorie Lenihan and Dorothy Short. Survivors include one daughter, Carol; three sons: James; Ronald and his wife, Beverly; and Richard and his wife, Mary Lu; nine grandchildren; one brother, William; other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, June 23, 2010, at the United Church of Christ in Schleswig, Iowa. Rev. Chris Burtnett officiated the service and graveside rites held at the Morgan Cemetery in Schleswig, Iowa. Organist Wendy Bumann provided the organ accompaniment for "The Lord's Prayer" and for congregational hymn "In The Garden." Saxophonist Jen Anders played "O Danny Boy" for the recessional. Military Honors and serving as pallbearers were the Schleswig American Legion Post 645 and V.F.W. Post 3930. The family invited everyone in attendance at the service to join them in fellowship and lunch at the church served by the Women's Guild. The Huebner Funeral Home in Schleswig was in charge of arrangements.