Obit: Tilch, Melvin Gustave (1935 - 2022)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Tilch, Roiger, Zutt, Graski, Kerns, Bauman, Bonilla, Neddo, Hraby, Szomi, Kenney, Klemm, Hayden

----Source: Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home (Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI) 3/23/2022

Tilch, Melvin Gustave (8 December 1935 – 22 March 2022) With Flag

Melvin Gustave Tilch, 86, of Abbotsford, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at his home under the tender care of Heartland Hospice.

Melvin was born December 8, 1935, in Rib Lake the son of William & Rose (Roiger) Tilch. He attended school in Rib Lake. After graduation he worked on the family farm. He then went to Milwaukee for 2 years before enlisting in the Army in 1957. He was stationed in Frankfurt, West Germany. While in Germany, one of the places he was able to visit was East Berlin prior to the wall being built, and neighboring countries. It was also there that he met his wife, Annelore Zutt and they were married December 3, 1958, in Frankfurt.

After he was discharged from the Army, they moved to Milwaukee where he worked construction and later at Briggs & Stratton. In 1962, Melvin and Ann took over his parent’s farm in Rib Lake. Melvin continued the family tradition of public service where he served as supervisor for Township of Greenwood. Melvin served on the Board of Directors for Medford Co-op for 9 years, one of those as President. He also attended a 3-year course for Ag school in Medford.

In 1998, they sold the family farm, made the move to Abbotsford and started years of travelling to most of the 50 states including Alaska, Hawaii, Italy, France, Austria and Czechoslovakia “Schechi”. plus going back to Germany, After many adventures in traveling in Europe, they made many more lifelong friends.

Melvin was never one to be idle, so he and Ann created many beautiful items out of wood, solar lights and metal. He always gave back to the community thru donations of their creations to the Lions, local fire, ambulance & police departments and benefits.

He is survived by his wife, Ann; daughter Annette (Vaughn Graski), Mark, Todd (Cindy Kerns), granddaughters: Samantha Bauman & Tiara Bonilla; Great granddaughters, Talianna, Ariana and Aubrey. He is further survived by five Sisters: Roselle Neddo of Malta, Idaho, Marcella Hraby of Medford, Cecilia Szomi of Medford, Delores Kenney of West Bend, Margie Tilch of Medford; two brothers: Harvey (Mary) Tilch of Milwaukee and, John (Sue) Tilch of Delafield.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers: Francis, Bernard, & Irvin; two sisters: Lillian Klemm and Mary Ann Klemm; Brothers-in-law, Joe Hraby, Frank Szomi, Al Neddo, Ralph Klemm, Gene Kenney, and Irving ‘Buck’ Klemm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 28, 2022, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Abbotsford. Father Michael Hayden will officiate. Interment to follow at St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the Colby VFW Post #2227 and Rib Lake American Legion Post #274. Family and friends are welcome on Monday from 9:00 a.m. until time of service at the church. Live stream will be available for those unable to attend on the Maurina Schilling Funeral Home Facebook page or after the service anytime on Facebook or the website.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to St Bernard in Abbotsford, St. Ann's Historical Society in Rib Lake or Heartland Hospice of Stevens Point.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Melvin, please visit our floral store.