George Melin

George Melin, Jr., age 69, of Staples died Saturday, November 24, 2007 in Yuma, AZ. Funeral services will be Saturday, December 1, at 10:00 am, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd, with the Rev. David Holte and the Rev. Jim Almquist officiating. Friends may visit Friday, November 30, from 6-8 pm, at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Staples, and at the church for one hour prior to services on Saturday. Interment will be at Evergreen Hills Cemetery in Staples. A luncheon will follow, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Staples.
George Adolph Melin, Jr. was born April 9, 1938 in International Falls, to George, Sr. and Helen (Yurkiewich) Melin. He graduated from Brainerd High School, where he played football and helped begin the wrestling program, as well as serving as editor of the Brainonian. Following high school he attended the University of Minnesota, Duluth, where he continued to play football, earning trophies that are still on display at the university. He graduated with a BS degree in mathematics and taught in Beloit, WI for a year. He was united in marriage to Sylvia Nelson, his high school classmate, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd on June 13, 1959. He then taught for five years at St. Cloud Tech, where he served as the assistant coach for the football and wrestling teams and was the yearbook advisor. He worked at Pako in the Twin Cities for a time, teaching others to use photo equipment. The family moved to Staples, where George taught at Staples Vo-Tech for five years. He began his own business, Ultra Color Professional Finishing Lab, a business that he operated for thirty-three years. George enjoyed fishing, deer hunting, and creating stained glass. He and Sylvia enjoyed their summers in L.O.W and winters in Arizona.

George is survived by Sylvia, his loving wife of 48 years; children, Tamara (Jeff) Jares, Staples, Teresa (Marv) Dockendorf, South Haven, Traci (Lynn) Weishalla, Staples, and Tim (Terri) Melin, Brainerd; eleven grandchildren and two great-granddaughters; and a brother, Dann (Joni) Melin, Nisswa. He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson. Services entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.