Services for Eugene Richard Melander
Wed, 03/16/2016 - 11:26am
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Eugene Richard Melander, 86, of Gonvick, MN, died on Sunday, March 13, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Center in Clearbrook, MN.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Samhold Lutheran Church in Gonvick, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Untied Lutheran Cemetery in Berner, MN. Military rites will be accorded by the American Legion Post No. 304 of Gonvick, MN. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley assisted the family with arrangements.
Gene was born on March 25, 1929 to Gustave and Caroline (Gomsrud) Melander of Berner, MN. They had 12 children; 10 survived to adulthood.
Gene married Darlene Rouland of Gully and they had 5 children, Jeff, Darla, Joni, Jayson, and Joel. They have 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Gene was a life-long horse enthusiast and cattle-man. As a mid-west cowboy, he farmed/ranched south of Gully. He rode and participated in Gonvick Saddle Club events, and later in life continued to assist and organize Gonvick Lion’s Club Rodeo events. He was a member of Gonvick American Legion Post #304 and very active for many years.
He was always very welcoming and generous to his nieces, nephews, and siblings who loved spending holidays and summers at his farm. And all of his children are aware of how proud he was of them and how much he loved his grandchildren.
Always quick to smile, he enjoyed the ranching and cowboy ways. He loved to dance, attending many local events. This is he “Last Cowboy Waltz”. May God bless his memory and his family legacy.
He is survived by his sons, Jeffrey (Linda) Melander, Jayson Melander, and Joel (Becky) Melander; his daughters, Darla Melander and Joni (Lyle) Swanson; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great- grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Gustave and Caroline Melander; his brothers, John, Robert, Phillip, and Roger Melander; and his sisters, Leola Brandon, Grace Nyland, Natalie Haugen, June Neal, and Muriel Wagner.
Messages of condolence may be sent to ceasefuneralhome.com.
