Melvin Detjen

Melvin E. Detjen, 79, of Friedheim passed away Sunday, Jan. 30, 2005, at his home.

He was born April 24, 1925, in Cape Girardeau County, son of Edward and Ida Roth Detjen. He and Constance Irene Sauer were married April 20, 1947, in Jackson.

During World War II, Melvin served and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army.

He was a self-employed farmer in the Friedheim community. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim and a member of the American Legion Post in Perryville, Mo.

Loving survivors include his wife; two daughters and sons-in-law, Delores and Dean Meyr of Friedheim, Judy and Floyd "Pete" Miller of Oak Ridge; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Amanda Steffens and Helen and Hilmer Stueve of Frohna, Mo.; seven grandchildren, Delwain Meyr, Dericka (Mike) Newell of Friedheim, Daphine (Bradley) Buerck and Dawnell (Jeremy) Zoellner of Perryville, Sheila (Rob) Grayhek of Jackson, Nathan and Phillip Miller of Oak Ridge; five great-grandchildren, Dustin Meyr of Imperial, Mo., Chantil and Calen Buerck of Perryville, Kyran Newell of Friedheim, and Erin Grayhek of Jackson.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law.

Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4 to 8 p.m. today, and Wednesday after 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim.

The funeral will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Trinity Church, with the Rev. Charles Weber officiating. Interment will be in Cape County Memorial Park with graveside military honors.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim or the American Cancer Society.