Melvin A. Elgersma, 87 years, of Lakeland, FL and formerly of Fox Lake, WI passed away on Saturday, January 30, 2016 in Lakeland, FL.
A memorial gathering for Melvin will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2016 from Noon until 1:00 p.m. at the Alto Reformed Church, N3697 County Highway EE, Waupun with a memorial service to begin at 1:00 p.m. at the church.
Melvin Arnold was born the son of John and Clara (Dykstra) Elgersma on March 15, 1928 in Randolph. He was married to Ruth Ann Cuff on June 30, 1950. He was later married to Gertrude Lemieux.
Melvin farmed in the Fox Lake area for a year, and then moved to Portage to work at the Cuff Feed Mill until 1963. While in Portage, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and was an avid curler. In 1963 he moved to Waupun to work at the Waupun Feed and Seed, and later at the Randolph and Eldorado Mills as a consumer sales and service man. Melvin maintained a hog farm while in the Fox Lake area; upon retiring he continued raising hogs and was a partner in the Elgersma Kennels. In 1995, he moved to Mulberry, Florida where he enjoyed playing shuffleboard and was inducted into the Florida Shuffleboard Hall of Fame.
Melvin is survived by his wife of nine years Gertrude of Lakeland, FL; his seven children: Christine (Jim Slagle) Vande Kolk of Oregon, WI, Steven (Kathy) Elgersma of Waupaca, Gerald Elgersma of Beaver Dam, Cena (Alan) Kamphuis of Waupun, Barbara Vant Hoff of Fox Lake, David (Heidi) Elgersma of Beaver Dam and Gregory (Teresa) Elgersma of Mulberry, FL; 19 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren; his former wife of 48 years Ruth Ann Elgersma of Beaver Dam; two sisters: Helen Slager of Waupun and Verna (Harold) Cupery of Kalamazoo, MI; his step children: Cecile (Barry) Morgrage, Andre (Gina) Desmarais, Denise (John) Greene, Denis (Cheryl) Desmarais, Raymond (Alison) Desmarais, Paul (Donna) Desmarais and Jean Desmarais. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Mary Ann Agnew, his son James Elgersma, grandsons: Benjamin Elgersma and Matthew Agnew, great grandson Max Riley, sister Evelyn Vander Galien and brother-in-law Donovan Slager.
Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home, Beaver Dam is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.koepsellfh.com
