VirJean ‘Jeannie’ Mellenthin
VirJean E. “Jeannie” Mellenthin, 89, a longtime resident of Spencer, passed away on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, at Three Oaks Health Services in Marshfield. A memorial service will take place on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 2 p.m., at Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Spencer. Pastor Mikayla Kopp, Jeannie’s granddaughter, will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Family and friends are invited to gather on Sunday at the church in Spencer from noon until time of services.
VirJean was born on April 30, 1933. She graduated from Spencer High School where she met the love of her life. On June 3, 1952, VirJean married Pete Mellenthin in the parsonage at Christ the King Catholic Church. Pete and Jean renewed their vows at St. John’s Lutheran Church for their 50th wedding anniversary in 2002. They purchased the family homestead and VirJean worked beside Pete while maintaining a household for her family. She sewed clothes so that her children were able to wear matching outfits for every holiday. She cooked and baked like no other; she could make a wonderful meal from whatever was available at that time. You never went hungry. When anyone would stop and visit, no matter what, she prepared a meal fit for royalty. She became a cake decorator and instructor, making hundreds of cakes in the Spencer area for weddings, graduations, birthdays and baptisms. She was always trying to make someone happy. She would stop in the middle of her busy day to make doll clothes for her little girls and their friends. Many of her knitted and crocheted sweaters, mittens and afghans are still being used today. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Spencer. She was a Sunday School teacher, 4-H leader and cake decorator for many grocery stores in the area. VirJean and Pete were responsible for raising and caring for 26 foster children. VirJean was always there for her family and will be missed.
She is lovingly survived by one sister, Pat (Elmer) Schemenauer; her children: Gwen (Wayne Hempel) Thomas of Marshfield, Janine (Bruce) Luepke of Spencer, Randy (Melody) Mellenthin of Unity, Janell (Dennis) Kopp of Loyal, and Geana (Kevin) Connelly of Chicago, Ill.; her grandchildren: Troy (Maria) Luepke, DeAnn (Ryan) Griepentrog, Ryan Thomas, Crystal (Curt) Weihrouch, Dana Egner, Luke (Liz) Mellenthin, Brandon Kopp, Allison Mellenthin, Mikayla Kopp, and Liam and Grace Connelly; 13 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren, a foster son: Rich (Jenny) Niemen; and many other relatives and friends.
VirJean was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; four brothers; one sister; a grandson, Jacob Kopp; and a son-in-law, Denny Thomas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Spencer.
A special thank you to the Three Oaks staff who gave her wonderful care. VirJean’s arrangements are under the care of Life Tributes Funeral Home-Spencer. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome. com.
PAID OBITUARY 126826
