Melvin Paul Noeske

Melvin Paul Noeske

January 22, 1923 – December 7, 2019

          Melvin P. Noeske, a long-time resident of Osage, MN, passed away on December 7, 2019 at Heritage Living at the age of 96.

          Mel was born in Bertha, MN on January 22, 1923.  He was the only child to Charles and Lenna (Ketcher) Noeske.  He graduated from Bertha High School.  After graduating from the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was stationed in India during WWII.  In 1946, he was discharged from the military and began working with his uncle, Louis, at Noeske Lumber Company.  He managed Noeske Lumber, which offered employment for many men in the Osage area.  The business retailed/wholesaled pine lumber products throughout northern Minnesota and North Dakota.  Mel retired in 1985.

          In 1947 Mel married Dorothy Rixen, who had been working as a one-room rural school teacher near Wolf Lake.  They had four children, Phillip, Lowell, Marie, and Wayne.  In 2003 he married Edith Eliason.

          Mel was generous with his time and talents.  He was active in St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lake Region Electric board of directors, Osage Lions and Sportsmen’s club.  He loved family, the many friends he had, woodworking, fishing, and gardening.  He seldom missed morning coffee with his Osage friends before picking up the mail.

          He is survived by his daughter-in-law Lynnette Noeske of Indianapolis, IN; granddaughters Jessica (Brad) Gregson of Bargersville, IN and Melissa (Matthew) Wilson of Muncie, IN; son Lowell (Luann) Noeske of Pierre, SD; and daughter Marie (Robbin) Hodges of Huntsville, AL; great-grandsons Braxton Gregson, Aiden, Ian, and Liam Wilson.  Also, Edith’s daughter-in-law Nancy Raty and daughter Doris duBois; grandchildren Michael Eliason, Diane Reyes, Heather Kreatch and Michelle duBois; and great-grandchildren Alex Reyes and Chloe and Siena Kreatch.

          He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Lenna; wife Dorothy in 2000 and Edith in 2018; sons Wayne in 1975 and Phillip in 2019.  Also, Edith’s son Richard; son-in-law Roger duBois; and great-grandson Aaron Reyes.

                    Visitation will be held Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 10:00 with funeral services following at 11:00 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Park Rapids, MN.  Interment will be held later at a date to be arranged.  Friends may leave online condolences at www.jonespearson.com.  Arrangements by Jones Pearson Funeral Home of Park Rapids, MN.

          In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Osage Lions Club Park or St. John’s Lutheran Church Building Fund.