Melvin ‘Mel’ Anderson

Melvin “Mel” Anderson age 88, of Ionia, IA, died Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, at MercyOne New Hampton Medical Center.

Funeral Services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, at The United Methodist Church in Nashua with Rev. Sarah Namukose officiating.

Interment will be held at Sunnyside Memory Gardens, rural Charles City with Rick Anderson, Terry Anderson, Kelly Anderson, Justin Hintz, Zach Anderson, and Trevor Hintz serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Duane Lines, Gary Baxter, Corwin Dunlap, and Bill Reams.

Friends may greet the family from 9:30-11 a.m. prior to the service at the Methodist Church on Saturday.  Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home and Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.

Mel was born in rural Worth County, Iowa on Aug. 30, 1934, to Andrew and Ida Anderson. Mel graduated from Mitchell high school in 1953. He married Dallas Beyer in 1954 and they had four children before divorcing.

Mel was joined in marriage to Joyce (Franke) on Sept. 24, 1972, and they were blessed to have 50 years together and they were parents to two daughters.

Mel spent his life working on the land. He worked at the local Coop for 55 years helping area farmers. He and Joyce worked together on their family farm near Chickasaw Park until 2021. When they weren’t busy with the farm work, Mel loved to root on the Nashua Plainfield Huskies and the Iowa Hawkeyes. He and Jenn spent many years at Kinnick Stadium. They also loved watching the grandchildren at their sporting, school, and show calf events. He was so proud of his family. Mel was an active servant of Christ as a member of the Nashua United Methodist Church.

Mel is survived by his wife, Joyce Anderson of Ionia, IA; six children, Donna (Al) Anhorn of Mitchell, Rick (Pat) Anderson of Woodbury, TN, Terry Anderson of Osage, Kelly (Stacy) Anderson of Osage, Jenn Anderson of Vinton, and Marcy Anderson of Somerset, KY. Grandchildren include April (Ken), Justin(Jessica), Trevor, Jacob, Ashley (Tanner), Zach, and William. Great-grandchildren include Taylor (Ethan), Morgan, Alyssa, Addy, Aaron, Jayson, Jackson, Joslyn, Paisley, Huxley, and Brixley. And Great Great Grandchildren Elijah and Daphne. Brother Arnie and his family in Arizona.

Mel was preceded in death by his parents, and his siblings Gladys, Adeline, Bernice, Darlene, Kate, and Glen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family. These memorials will be used to support the Nashua United Methodist Church, Kiwanis Miracle League baseball and Sleep in Heavenly Peace as these were organizations that were dear to Mel.