OTIS — Melvin Leonard Wegele June 1, 1937 – March 30, 2025
Melvin Leonard Wegele, 87, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2025, at Brookdale Memory Care, Wichita, Kan., surrounded by the love of his family. Born on June 1, 1937, on the family farm, in Russell County, Kan., he was the son of Henry Wegele and Marie Katherina “Katie” Mai Wegele.
Melvin was baptized and confirmed in the German Lutheran Church, in Milberger, Kan. German was his first language. He proudly embraced his Volga German heritage by sharing stories, teaching amusing words and phrases, and emphasized the importance of family history.
As a youth, Melvin enjoyed fishing, hunting, and riding his horse Trigger along the Smoky Hill River, and causing mischief with his sister, Shirley. These adventures lead him to getting caught in quicksand and getting bitten by a copper head snake. He always dreamed of being a cowboy like the heroes in the old radio westerns.
A graduate of Otis Rural High School, Class of 1957, Melvin began his career with BF Goodrich. While working there, a manager at Kansas Brick and Tile recognized his work ethic and offered him a job. He later retired from Kansas Building Products. Known for his dedication and going the extra mile, he was respected and admired by colleagues and friends alike.
On June 4, 1961, Melvin married his high school sweetheart Judeen Ochs, and together they built a life centered around love, family, and faith.
Melvin is survived by his devoted wife, Judeen of almost 64 years; daughter, Tina Marie (Fiancé Larry Davis) of McKinney, Texas, and Shelley Lynette (Craig Kunkel) of Colorado Springs, Colo.; grandchildren, Alexander Griffin of Frisco, Texas; Noah Griffin of The Colony, Texas, and Ella Jane Kunkel of Colorado Springs, Colo.; granddog, Hazel of McKinney, Texas; his sister and best friend, Shirley Watts of Austin, Texas; numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Reinhold and Victor Wegele; and sister, Leona Ryan.
Melvin’s memory will be honored with a memorial fund benefiting Ascension Lutheran Church, 842 N. Tyler Road, Wichita, KS 67205 and Alzheimer’s Association of Central and Western Kansas, 535 West Douglas, Suite 150, Wichita, KS 67213.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary, 10515 W. Maple, Wichita, KS 67206. A Celebration of Life service will take place on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church, 842 N Tyler Rd., Wichita, KS 67205, followed by a luncheon. The burial will be held later that day at 4 p.m. at Otis Lutheran Cemetery, Otis, KS.
Melvin will be remembered for his sense of humor, quick wit, distinctive whistle, yodeling, and the love he had for his family and friends.
Share tributes online at: www.dlwichita.com.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Downing & Lahey Mortuary
6555 E. Central Ave.
Wichita, KS 67206
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 4, 2025
