Melvin Gale Boysen, age 76, of Odebolt, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, December 9, 2007, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa, following a lengthy illness with cancer.

Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, December 13th, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kiron, Iowa, with Reverend Mark Hansen officiating. Burial will be at the Deloit Cemetery under the direction of the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home.

Visitation is from 5:00-8:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 12th at the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home in Odebolt.

Melvin was born on June 24, 1931 in Crawford County, Goodrich Township, near Deloit, Iowa, the son of Henry Fred and Inez Evelyn (Childress) Boysen. He was raised on the farm and attended Goodrich Township No. 1 Country School and farmed with his Dad, until he enlisted in the Army. From 1955-1957, Melvin served his country, during the Korean Conflict. After his discharge, he returned to farming, road construction, and driving truck. In 1970 he moved to Alton and West Plains, Missouri. He retired in 1994 at the age of 63. Melvin returned to Iowa in 2002, moving to Odebolt where he resided at the time of his death.

He was confirmed in Zion Lutheran Church, Denison, Iowa, in 1948, where he was a member, until recently, transferring to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kiron, Iowa.

His favorite pastime was taking care of his dog Buttons of many years, and meeting his friends for coffee and conversation. He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 61 in Ida Grove.

He is survived by his brothers: Hubert and wife Corlys of Arthur, IA; Leonard and wife LaVon of Sac City, IA; Dean and wife Virginia of West Burlington, IA; Don and friend Ruby of West Plains, MO; and Jim and wife Judy of Holstein, IA. Other survivors include his best friend of many years, Darlene Boyens of Kiron and her family, many nieces and nephews, and extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister in infancy, Luverne Unabell Boysen; brother Rev. Joseph Boysen and his wife Sharon; a nephew Ted Boysen; and niece Susan Boysen.