Melvin Martin Minden...Age 94

Service 11 am, Wednesday, April 2, 2014.

Instate 2pm Tuesday, April 1, 2014.

Visitation 6-8pm Tuesday, April 1 ,2014. All at Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home.

Burial in Osawatomie Cemetery, Osawatomie, Ks.  With military honors.

Memorials are to the American Legion Riders.

Melvin Martin Minden age 94, of Paola, Kansas formerly of Osawatomie, died Saturday, March 29, 2014 at Life Care Center of Osawatomie.

Melvin was born April 8, 1919 in Fontana, Kansas, the second of three children to Fred and Marie (Block) Minden. He grew up in the Fontana area and attended school there.

On October 29, 1941 Melvin was inducted in to the United States Army, he served during WWII as an automotive mechanic and a sharpshooter. He was based out of Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth, Kansas and served in the South Pacific.  He was honorably discharged on October 12, 1945.

After his term in the military he married Bessie June Vanatta on August 29, 1946 at the Methodist Church in Butler, Missouri. The couple made their home in Paola, Kansas and became the parents of four children. The family moved to Osawatomie in the 1960’s until 1971 when they moved to their present home in rural Paola. Bessie died on August 24, 2013 the couple would have celebrated their 67 ^th anniversary in four more days.

Melvin was trained as a mechanic while serving in the Army and continued this after his discharge. He worked for several auto garages in the area including Mac Motors, the Ford Dealership in Ottawa, Mobile Gas Station and Ron Pool. Later he opened his own “Minden Garage”, then later expanding his business to include auto body repair when it became “Minden – Miller Garage”.

Melvin was a member of the American Legion of Paola, VFW of Osawatomie and a 61 year member of the Elks Lodge #921 of Osawatomie.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Bessie, his sister Bernice Deel on December 24, 2014 and one grandson Matthew Armstrong in May of 2007.

Melvin is survived by his three sons: James (Janie) Minden, Dennis (Brenda) Minden, Randy Minden all of Osawatomie, KS and one daughter Diana (Alvin) Simon of Falls City, Nebraska. Seven grandchildren: Regina McMahan, Jimmy Minden, Jered Minden, Jason Minden, Jeff Minden, Karie Mayo, Ashley Minden and eighteen great grandchildren.