Melvin Sucher ’44
Melvin Rogers Sucher, 93, of Perham, Minn., passed away on June 8, 2014 at Prairie View Assisted Living in Perham. Melvin was born April 4, 1921 in Big Fork, Minn. to Clyde and Ida Sucher. At age two his mother died and Melvin went to live on a farm with his Great-Uncle Nels Nelson and family near Albion, Iowa, where he later graduated from high school. He attended three colleges – Luther College and Waldorf Junior College in Iowa, and St. Olaf College in Minnesota – and Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.
On June 8, 1947, exactly 67 years before his death, Melvin was ordained as a Lutheran minister in Story City, Iowa. Three weeks later he married Phyllis M. Carlson in Jamestown, N.Y. Over the next 39 years Melvin served five parishes: Bear River, Minn. at Bear River, Silverdale, and Celina churches; Warren, Minn. at Our Savior’s, McCrae, and Melo churches; Benson, Minn. at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church; rural Lanesboro, Minn. at North Prairie and Pilot Mound churches; and rural Clarks Grove, Minn. at Central Freeborn and North Freeborn Lutheran churches.
In 1986, Melvin retired from the ministry, though he continued with many family weddings and baptisms and ministry of family and friends even after retirement. After retirement they moved to Story City, Iowa and later to Perham, with winters in Mesa, Ariz. Mel loved to travel, visiting the Holy Land, Germany, Scandinavian countries, Hawaii, and many places throughout the U.S.; deer hunting – he shot a deer at age 91 – fishing, gardening, playing softball – pitching well into his 60s – music, and playing cards were some of his many pastimes. Watching all sports on TV and doing crosswords kept his mind active in later years. During his 93 years, Melvin touched the lives of many across the nation.
Mel is preceded in death by his parents, foster parents, six siblings, daughter Karol Clemens at age 31, and great-granddaughter Larissa Kirchenwitz at age three months. He is survived by wife, Phyllis; son Timothy Sucher and wife Paula; daughters, Miriam Hatlevig and husband Jim, Mary Beth Royer and husband Bruce, and Kathy Eason and husband Randy. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren: Kersten Buskirk and husband Kyle, Megan Kirchenwtiz and husband Justin, Annalise Shippee and husband Aaron, Bethany Anderson and husband Bill, Kyle Sucher and wife Sara, Rachel Garcia, Cameron Davis and spouse Jamie, Courtney Davis, Matt Royer and wife Shannon, Philip Royer and wife Vanessa, Luke Stevens-Royer and wife Jenna, Paul Clemens and wife Julia, Rachel Cuthbert and husband Ben, Dan Clemens, Anna Clemens, Tiffany Linck and husband Andy, and Karissa Thunselle; 19 great-grandchildren: Kael Buskirk, Kaylie and Emily Kirchenwitz, Sadie, Carter, and Lilliana Shippee, Madisyn Garcia, Archer and Erika Davis, Elle and Andre Royer, Olivia and Elyse Royer, Louisa Royer, Jonah, Thatcher, and Oliver Cuthbert, Kinley Linck, and Kayden Carothers; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Calvary Lutheran Church or Waldorf College Foundation, Forest City, Iowa.
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