Melvin Gustave Tilch
Melvin Gustave Tilch, age 86, of Abbotsford, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, Mar. 22, 2022, at his home under the tender care of Heartland Hospice. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Mar. 28 at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Abbotsford. Father Michael Hayden officiated. Interment followed 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 were welcomed on Monday from 9 a.m. until time of service at the church. Live stream is available on the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home Facebook page or the website. The Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford is entrusted with the arrangements.
Melvin was born Dec. 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 Dec. 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
1935-2022
Greenwood. Melvin served on the Board of Directors for Medford Co-op for nine years, one of those as President. He also attended a three year course for Ag school in Medford.
In 1998, they sold the family farm, made the move to Abbotsford and started years of traveling to most of the 50 states including Alaska, Hawaii, Italy, France, Austria and Czechoslovakia “Schechi” plus going back to Germany. After many adventures 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) of Curtiss; sons, Mark of Abbotsford, Todd (Cindy Kearns) of Wausau; granddaughters, Samantha Bauman & Tiara Bonilla; great-granddaughters, Talianna, Ariana and Aubrey. He is further survived by five sisters, Roselle Neddo of Malta, ID, Marcella Hraby of Medford, Cecilia Szomi of Medford, Delores Kenney of West Bend, and 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.
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.
Family and friends may express condolences online at www.maurinaschilling.com.
Paid Obituary 118634
