Pastor Melvin J. Gohdes, age 86, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, passed away on Sunday, January 9, 2011, with his beloved wife, Fay, at his side at the Syverson Lutheran Home in Eau Claire after a long, debilitating illness.
Melvin was born on January 30, 1924, son of the late August and Minnie Gohdes in Wausau, Wisconsin. He was a very gifted man growing up loving the out of doors. He soon learned the thrill of creating things out of wood; which came in handy later on in life.
After finishing eighth grade, he was determined to attend high school. Due to lack of transportation, this was not an easy decision. He attended and graduated from Wausau East High School where he rode his bike each day, back and forth, a distance of ten miles each way. In winter, he worked on farms near Wausau and had the chance to get rides to school.
Following high school, Mel worked as a carpenter building log homes and barns. He received a job that changed his life when he helped build cabins at Camp Luther in Three Lakes, Wisconsin. Working with camp counselors and sharing things about life, he more and more thought about serving God in his own life.
The following fall, Melvin entered Concordia College in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated in May 1950 and was ordained in 1953 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Merrill, Wisconsin. Throughout his life, he served many churches, the latest being St. Paul, a country church which he attended in his early years. After retiring, Mel received many letters of gratitude and love for the kindness and compassion he gave them in times of need. He became a Chaplain at Clark County Health Care Center in Owen, Wisconsin, where he served four years.
He married Beatrice Hursman in 1955 and they later divorced. In 1988, he married Fay M. Delaney in Merrill, Wisconsin. He enjoyed building furniture and growing his garden - selling his produce at the Wausau Farmers Market. This was the best type of therapy he could ever do. Being an avid Scrabble player, he and Fay spent many nights enjoying the game.
He is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Fay; children, David (Kyong) Gohdes, Hawaii, Dorothy Gohdes, Los Angeles, California, Dan (Lisa) Gohdes, San Pedro, California, Mary (Bob) Carpenter, San Pedro, California;
grandchildren, Angela and Bonnie Diaz, Danielle, Zachary, Jericho, Jessica and Ryan Gohdes, and Rachel and Emilee Carpenter; brother, Carl (Pat) Gohdes, Macomb, Michigan, Milton (Virginia) Gohdes, Wausau, Wisconsin.
and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Grace Alexiou, Mildred Hoffman, and Geraldine Gohdes.
The family would like to thank Northwest Wisconsin HomeCare and the Syverson Lutheran Home for the care they gave Melvin. Especially the staff on 3rd floor for the love, the caring, and the time spent singing with Melvin and the chaplain staff for the kind prayers. All of the staff have our deep gratitude and appreciation for what they gave Melvin.
A memorial service was held 1:30 p.m on Sunday, January 30, 2011, at the Syverson Lutheran Home Chapel in Eau Claire with the Reverend Debra Boynton officiating.
Melvin was born on January 30, 1924, son of the late August and Minnie Gohdes in Wausau, Wisconsin. He was a very gifted man growing up loving the out of doors. He soon learned the thrill of creating things out of wood; which came in handy later on in life.
After finishing eighth grade, he was determined to attend high school. Due to lack of transportation, this was not an easy decision. He attended and graduated from Wausau East High School where he rode his bike each day, back and forth, a distance of ten miles each way. In winter, he worked on farms near Wausau and had the chance to get rides to school.
Following high school, Mel worked as a carpenter building log homes and barns. He received a job that changed his life when he helped build cabins at Camp Luther in Three Lakes, Wisconsin. Working with camp counselors and sharing things about life, he more and more thought about serving God in his own life.
The following fall, Melvin entered Concordia College in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated in May 1950 and was ordained in 1953 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Merrill, Wisconsin. Throughout his life, he served many churches, the latest being St. Paul, a country church which he attended in his early years. After retiring, Mel received many letters of gratitude and love for the kindness and compassion he gave them in times of need. He became a Chaplain at Clark County Health Care Center in Owen, Wisconsin, where he served four years.
He married Beatrice Hursman in 1955 and they later divorced. In 1988, he married Fay M. Delaney in Merrill, Wisconsin. He enjoyed building furniture and growing his garden - selling his produce at the Wausau Farmers Market. This was the best type of therapy he could ever do. Being an avid Scrabble player, he and Fay spent many nights enjoying the game.
He is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Fay; children, David (Kyong) Gohdes, Hawaii, Dorothy Gohdes, Los Angeles, California, Dan (Lisa) Gohdes, San Pedro, California, Mary (Bob) Carpenter, San Pedro, California;
grandchildren, Angela and Bonnie Diaz, Danielle, Zachary, Jericho, Jessica and Ryan Gohdes, and Rachel and Emilee Carpenter; brother, Carl (Pat) Gohdes, Macomb, Michigan, Milton (Virginia) Gohdes, Wausau, Wisconsin.
and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Grace Alexiou, Mildred Hoffman, and Geraldine Gohdes.
The family would like to thank Northwest Wisconsin HomeCare and the Syverson Lutheran Home for the care they gave Melvin. Especially the staff on 3rd floor for the love, the caring, and the time spent singing with Melvin and the chaplain staff for the kind prayers. All of the staff have our deep gratitude and appreciation for what they gave Melvin.
A memorial service was held 1:30 p.m on Sunday, January 30, 2011, at the Syverson Lutheran Home Chapel in Eau Claire with the Reverend Debra Boynton officiating.
Pastor Melvin J. Gohdes, age 86, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, passed away on Sunday, January 9, 2011, with his beloved wife, Fay, at his side at the Syverson Lutheran Home in Eau Claire after a long, debilitating illness.
Melvin was born on January 30, 1924, son of the late August and Minnie Gohdes in Wausau, Wisconsin. He was a very gifted man growing up loving the out of doors. He soon learned the thrill of creating things out of wood; which came in handy later on in life.
After finishing eighth grade, he was determined to attend high school. Due to lack of transportation, this was not an easy decision. He attended and graduated from Wausau East High School where he rode his bike each day, back and forth, a distance of ten miles each way. In winter, he worked on farms near Wausau and had the chance to get rides to school.
Following high school, Mel worked as a carpenter building log homes and barns. He received a job that changed his life when he helped build cabins at Camp Luther in Three Lakes, Wisconsin. Working with camp counselors and sharing things about life, he more and more thought about serving God in his own life.
The following fall, Melvin entered Concordia College in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated in May 1950 and was ordained in 1953 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Merrill, Wisconsin. Throughout his life, he served many churches, the latest being St. Paul, a country church which he attended in his early years. After retiring, Mel received many letters of gratitude and love for the kindness and compassion he gave them in times of need. He became a Chaplain at Clark County Health Care Center in Owen, Wisconsin, where he served four years.
He married Beatrice Hursman in 1955 and they later divorced. In 1988, he married Fay M. Delaney in Merrill, Wisconsin. He enjoyed building furniture and growing his garden - selling his produce at the Wausau Farmers Market. This was the best type of therapy he could ever do. Being an avid Scrabble player, he and Fay spent many nights enjoying the game.
He is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Fay; children, David (Kyong) Gohdes, Hawaii, Dorothy Gohdes, Los Angeles, California, Dan (Lisa) Gohdes, San Pedro, California, Mary (Bob) Carpenter, San Pedro, California;
grandchildren, Angela and Bonnie Diaz, Danielle, Zachary, Jericho, Jessica and Ryan Gohdes, and Rachel and Emilee Carpenter; brother, Carl (Pat) Gohdes, Macomb, Michigan, Milton (Virginia) Gohdes, Wausau, Wisconsin.
and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Grace Alexiou, Mildred Hoffman, and Geraldine Gohdes.
The family would like to thank Northwest Wisconsin HomeCare and the Syverson Lutheran Home for the care they gave Melvin. Especially the staff on 3rd floor for the love, the caring, and the time spent singing with Melvin and the chaplain staff for the kind prayers. All of the staff have our deep gratitude and appreciation for what they gave Melvin.
A memorial service was held 1:30 p.m on Sunday, January 30, 2011, at the Syverson Lutheran Home Chapel in Eau Claire with the Reverend Debra Boynton officiating.
Melvin was born on January 30, 1924, son of the late August and Minnie Gohdes in Wausau, Wisconsin. He was a very gifted man growing up loving the out of doors. He soon learned the thrill of creating things out of wood; which came in handy later on in life.
After finishing eighth grade, he was determined to attend high school. Due to lack of transportation, this was not an easy decision. He attended and graduated from Wausau East High School where he rode his bike each day, back and forth, a distance of ten miles each way. In winter, he worked on farms near Wausau and had the chance to get rides to school.
Following high school, Mel worked as a carpenter building log homes and barns. He received a job that changed his life when he helped build cabins at Camp Luther in Three Lakes, Wisconsin. Working with camp counselors and sharing things about life, he more and more thought about serving God in his own life.
The following fall, Melvin entered Concordia College in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated in May 1950 and was ordained in 1953 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Merrill, Wisconsin. Throughout his life, he served many churches, the latest being St. Paul, a country church which he attended in his early years. After retiring, Mel received many letters of gratitude and love for the kindness and compassion he gave them in times of need. He became a Chaplain at Clark County Health Care Center in Owen, Wisconsin, where he served four years.
He married Beatrice Hursman in 1955 and they later divorced. In 1988, he married Fay M. Delaney in Merrill, Wisconsin. He enjoyed building furniture and growing his garden - selling his produce at the Wausau Farmers Market. This was the best type of therapy he could ever do. Being an avid Scrabble player, he and Fay spent many nights enjoying the game.
He is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Fay; children, David (Kyong) Gohdes, Hawaii, Dorothy Gohdes, Los Angeles, California, Dan (Lisa) Gohdes, San Pedro, California, Mary (Bob) Carpenter, San Pedro, California;
grandchildren, Angela and Bonnie Diaz, Danielle, Zachary, Jericho, Jessica and Ryan Gohdes, and Rachel and Emilee Carpenter; brother, Carl (Pat) Gohdes, Macomb, Michigan, Milton (Virginia) Gohdes, Wausau, Wisconsin.
and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Grace Alexiou, Mildred Hoffman, and Geraldine Gohdes.
The family would like to thank Northwest Wisconsin HomeCare and the Syverson Lutheran Home for the care they gave Melvin. Especially the staff on 3rd floor for the love, the caring, and the time spent singing with Melvin and the chaplain staff for the kind prayers. All of the staff have our deep gratitude and appreciation for what they gave Melvin.
A memorial service was held 1:30 p.m on Sunday, January 30, 2011, at the Syverson Lutheran Home Chapel in Eau Claire with the Reverend Debra Boynton officiating.
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