Melvin M. Franke, 94 years old of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away on Friday, September 26, 2014 in the Lutheran Life Villages at Pine Valley. He was born on Thursday, June 10, 1920 in Monroeville, Indiana the son of the late Fred W. Franke and the late Clara E. (Flach) Franke. He married Dorothy M. Lisius on September 30, 1950 in Fort Wayne and she preceded him in death on January 10, 1989. Melvin served his country in the United States Navy during WWII and the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne; the Lutheran Layman's League; the American Legion Post #330; United States National and State LST Association; and the Korean War Veterans Indiana Chapter #1. Melvin taught Sunday school at Mt. Calvary for 30 years. Melvin retired on July 1, 1982 from General Electric with 41 years and 2 months of service. Surviving are his son, Mark A. (Tommy) Franke of Fort Wayne; son, Monte L. (Patricia DuVal) Franke of Saratoga Springs, NY; son, Matthew D. (Dolores) Franke of Oxford, OH; and daughter, Myra S. (Kevin Mensing) Franke of Dallas, TX. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Mark Franke II; Mary Franke Bell; Timothy Franke; Daniel Franke; Elizabeth Franke; Jonathan Franke; Sara Franke; Eli Mensing; & Grace Mensing and two great-grandchildren, Henry Franke & Jane Bell. Preceding Melvin in death were two brothers, Delmer & Edward Franke; and a sister, Mildred Tyler. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, October 3, 2014 in the Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church with Rev. David Mueller and Rev. Dr. Daniel Gard officiating. Interment will follow in the St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Flatrock. Friends will be received from 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Jacobs Chapel in Monroeville and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Preferred memorials are to Ascension Lutheran Church.
