MEL

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MEL McKELVEY Mel McKelvey of Dauphin passed away with his wife and mother-in-law by his side, after a long courageous battle with cancer and renal failure, on August 11, 2004, at Dauphin Regional Health Centre at the age of 60 years. Mel was born on February 28, 1944, in Eriksdale, MB, to Mary and Joe McKelvey. They lived on the farm east of Ashern until Mel was 13 and the family moved to Ashern. The whole family enjoyed an active outdoor lifestyle, and Mel learned to fish, hunt and trap at a young age, which he enjoyed throughout his life. While living on the farm, he attended Parker School, a one-room school, which he had many fond memories and stories of. He then attended school in Ashern after moving to town, and after completing his education, he worked at several construction jobs: The Manitoba Department of Highways, the City of Portage la Prairie Transportation Department and the Department of National Defense. Mel also worked on the Nelson River Hydro projects, and erected steel power lines from Northern Manitoba to Southern Manitoba. Mel had a life long passion for hunting and fishing. He belonged to the Manitoba Wildlife Federation and Benevolent Brotherhood of Elks, and the Royal Canadian Legion (Portage and Dauphin Branches). Mel always considered that his greatest achievement in life was raising his son Ken from the age of five until he left home. Mel took immeasurable pride and joy in seeing what a fine man Ken had become, and what a wonderful family of their own Kim and Ken are raising. Mel met Debbie (Johnson) of Vogar in 1988, and they were married 1992. They resided in Portage la Prairie until 1996 and Dauphin to the present day. They enjoyed camping and fishing together, as well as music and going on trips to see the grandchildren. Mel was predeceased by his mother Mary in 1980; his brother Richard in 1992; and his father Joe in 1993. Left to mourn and cherish Mels memory are his loving wife and best friend Debbie; his beloved son Ken and his wife Kim, their children Katlin and Kirsten of Lloydminster, SK; his daughter Kandace Reichert of Lloydminster, AB, and her three daughters, Jade, Desiree and Hannah; his mother and father-in-law Bev and Paul Johnson of Vogar; his sister-in-law Lorraine and husband Kelly Johnson of Eddystone; brother-in-law Greg Johnson and wife Teresa of Vogar; sister-in-law Marlene and husband Brian Whitby of Gimli; grandparents-in-law, Mae and Ralph Poston of Winnipeg, Annie Johnson formerly of Vogar; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, extended family and friends. Mels Aunt Nettie Geisler of Ashern and cousin Dennis Geisler of Winnipeg also survive him. Mel was a quiet individual most of the time, who did not show his tender loving side to all, but those of us who knew him best knew his tender heart. The 10 nieces and nephews on Debbies side knew Uncle Mel as a patient and caring uncle whom they will miss. He often stopped to do a good deed for a stranger and would drop everything to do something needed for a friend. He also had a strong will which enabled him to fight his many health problems that he was burdened with from a young age. He loved to play the guitar and sing, he loved to hook a big rainbow, he loved to shoot his buck every year using only one shell, he loved to laugh and he loved his special cat Sam very much. Cremation has taken place. Memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 17 at 2:00 p.m. at the Riverside Evergreen Chapel. Rev. Ellen Wood will officiate. If friends so desire, memorial donations in memory of Mel may be made to CancerCare Manitoba (Volunteer Food Carts) and Dauphin Regional Health Centre-Dialysis Unit. The family would like to thank Eleanor Snitka for her support and caring compassion that she showed to Mel and Debbie over the last year, Dr. Trina Mathison for her kind and compassionate care, the other doctors and staff of the Dauphin Medical Clinic who have helped Mel over the last eight years through his illnesses, Myles, Pat and Trevor and the other pharmacists and staff of the Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy whose service and advice have greatly eased the burden of Mels illnesses, Debbie Hamilton, Sharon and Lil of Chemotherapy, Donna Prokopowich and the other nurses and staff of the Haemodialysis unit - all of your kindness and care to Mel will never be forgotten; Dr. D. Houston and Barb Hues of CancerCare Manitoba for your care and compassion over the last six years. The Sneath Strilchuk Funeral Service has care of the arrangements. God saw you getting tired, When a cure was not to be, So He closed His arms around you, And He whispered. "Come to Me." You do not deserve what you went through, And so He gave you rest, Gods garden must be beautiful, For He only takes from the best. In time we saw you sinking, We watched you fade away, Our hearts were almost broken, You fought so hard to stay. But when we saw you sleeping, So peacefully from pain, We could not wish you back, To suffer that again. If you had spoken before you died, These are the words you would have replied, "Weep not for me, but courage take, And love one another for my sake."

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 14, 2004