Melva Lou Case (Bruscher), age 86 of Lake View, IA, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at Park View Rehabilitation Center in Sac City, IA.
Melva was born on September 17, 1939, in Homer, NE, to Melvin and Helen (Graham) Martin. She grew up in Sioux City, IA, where she attended school.
Melva was united in marriage to David Bruscher, Sr., and together they were blessed with four children: David Jr., Daniel, Dean, and Debra. The couple later divorced. Melva later married Walter Case.
Dave and Melva raised their family in Sac City, where Melva worked various part-time jobs over the years before beginning employment at Loring Hospital. She later worked for Sac County Public Health, where she compassionately served her community.
Melva later moved to Lake View. She made many trips back and forth to Sioux City to care for her father. Following her father’s passing, her mother came to live with her, and Melva lovingly cared for her in her home for many years and through her final days—something that was both a blessing and an honor to her.
When her children were young, the family enjoyed many camping trips together. Melva was a wonderful cook and baker, an avid reader, and enjoyed playing golf as well as watching it on television. She loved watching birds and took great joy in the peaceful views of the lake from her home. Thrifting and garage-saling were favorite pastimes, and she especially cherished the time she spent with her sister, Cheri. The two shared a very close bond and often spent months at a time visiting one another due to the many miles between Iowa and Kansas.
Melva dearly loved Lake View and the many friends she made there. She was an active and faithful member of her church. Quiet-natured, kind, and always gracious, Melva will be remembered for her gentle spirit and the love she showed to all. Her greatest joy in life was her family, and nothing made her happier than time spent with her children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her children: Dave Jr. (Nancy “Nana”) Bruscher of Aurora, CO, Dan (Susan) Bruscher of Lake View, IA, Dean Bruscher of Lake View, IA, and Deb (Bill) Kennebeck of Cherokee, IA; grandchildren: Chris (Nancy) Bruscher, Andrew Bruscher, Kim (Carl) Friedman, Brandon Bruscher, Caitlynn Bruscher, Rebecca Wood, Ashley Kennebeck, Colton (Paige) Kennebeck, Kevin (Jenna) Siegrist, Jamie (Kristen) DeKruif, and Nikki DeKruif (Erik); over thirty great-grandchildren; numerous great-great grandchildren; daughters-in-law Mary Bruscher of Ankeny, IA, and Carol (Mike) Nitzke of Lake View, IA; sister Cheri Skidmore of Topeka, KS; several nieces, nephews, other extended family members and friends.
Melva was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Helen Martin; and her brother, Kent Martin.
Melva’s family and friends were truly blessed by her presence, and she will be deeply missed.
