Melvin Kosanke

Melvin W. Kosanke, 92, of Eldora, died from natural causes on Friday, December 18, 2009 at the Eldora Nursing and Rehab Center while under the care of Iowa Hospice. Funeral services will be at 10:30 am on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at the Eldora United Methodist Church in Eldora. Burial will follow at Eastlawn Memory Gardens in Eldora with military honors provided by Walter-Sayer Post 182 of the American Legion and Roll-Harless Post 3974 of the VFW. There will be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the services. Memorials may be directed to the Eldora United Methodist Church .

Melvin was born October 5, 1917, in rural Eldora , Iowa , son of Fred H. and Anna M. (Garbe) Kosanke. He attended Norwood Country School #2 and on September 19, 1941 was united in marriage to Marjorie Ann Folkerts at her parent’s home near Steamboat Rock, Iowa . Melvin was a veteran of the Second World War serving for 16 months in 1942 and 1943, and was stationed in Roswell , New Mexico where he worked on airplane engines. He returned to the family farm to help his father farm and in 1964 became employed as a welder for Vaux Welding in Union , Iowa . He worked there for several years before going into his own business, Kosanke Welding and Machine Shop.

Melvin was a former member of the Evangelical United Brethren of Hubbard and more recently of the Eldora United Methodist Church , and a member of Walter-Sayer Post 182 of the American Legion. He enjoyed fishing and watching John Deere tractors travel up and down the road.

He is survived by his wife, Marjorie; children, Myron (Elaine) Kosanke of Eldora, Patricia Swartzlander of Corydon, January Kosanke of Waterloo , and Terri (Bill) Stone of Eldora; sister, Edna Heard of Eldora; and by five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and by a son, Paul Jon.