Melvin H. Pope

Melvin H. Pope was Born December 14, 1914 on a farm which is now the site of the Clayton School. He was the son of Louis and Helena Denkert Pope. Helena passed away during the flu epidemic in 1920. The Pope family moved to Appleton in 1924 where Melvin attended Appleton High School, graduating in 1932. He played trumpet in the high school band and was privileged to go to Washington D.C. and perform for President Hoover in 1929. He continued in music, playing dance music with the Charles Brinkley Orchestra until 1940. He also enjoyed playing baseball and softball in the local Industrial League and hardball with the Appleton Team in the Fox River League in the 30s. In 1939, he married Marion Rusch of Loyal, WI. She passed away after 50 years of marriage. Melvin was called to service in 1943, training at Great Lakes. He was a member of the Bluejacket Choir that broadcast every week on radio. After being transferred to Rhode Island, he joined the 64 Naval Construction Batallion and played in the dance orchestra and marching band. After 13 months in the Hawaiian Islands and 14 months in the Philippines, he returned home. Melvin worked as a carpenter until retiring. In 1990 Melvin joined the local senior band where he met and married Dorothy Sturmer on May 29, 1993. Together with several other senior musicians, they became the Melo Tones and entertained for local and area nursing homes and other social events.He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Pope of Oshkosh, WI; 2 children, Judith (David) Weiss of Omro, WI, Laurel (Michael) Parker of Pittsboro N.C.; 5 step children Sandra (Warren) Mottl of Cedar Falls, IA, Dorothy (Jeff) Bergner of Plainfield, IL, Mary (Donald) Toby of Oshkosh, WI, Patrick (Lynn) Sturmer of Wausaukee, WI, Matthew Sturmer of Mendota Heights, MN; 3 grandchildren, Major Aaron (Suzanne) Weiss of Carlsbad, CA, Daniel (Krista) Weiss of Colorado Springs, CO, Rebekah (Andrew) Sell of Colorado Springs, CO; and 12 step grandchildren Tony (Paula) Way of Larsen, WI, Andrew Way of Watertown, NY, Emily Bergner of Plainfield, IL, Molly (Wes) McClain of Alexandria, VA, Daniel Bergner of Chicago, IL, Janine (Tim) Krajnik of Green Bay, WI, Nicole (Michael) White of Green Bay, WI, Staci Sturmer, Wausaukee of WI, Brice Sturmer, Wausaukee of WI, Mallory Sturmer of Mendota Heights, MN, Justine Sturmer of Chicago, IL, and Paul Sturmer of Mendota Heights, MN.Melvin was blessed to have 6 great grandchildren and many friends and relatives who loved him dearly. Melvin was preceeded in death by his wife, Marion, his brother Norman and his sister-in-law, Carmen. A memorial fund has been established.Funeral services will be held on Saturday July 22, 2006 at 11 a.m. at Bethel Home Chapel with Rev. Nathan Ericson officiating. Visitation will be held on Saturday at Bethel Home from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow the funeral at Lake View Memorial Park where full military honors will take place.The family would like to thank Bethel Home and Aurora Hospice for the exemplorary care.

Bethel Home Chapel



225 N Eagle Street
Oshkosh
WI
54902

Saturday, July 22, 2006
9:30 AM to 11:00 AM



Bethel Home Chapel



225 N Eagle Street
Oshkosh
WI
54902

Sunday, July 16, 2006
11:00 AM



Lake View Memorial Park



2786 Algoma Blvd
Oshkosh
WI
54901