Melvin Key

Melvin Lewis Key of Atlantic passed away at Cass County Memorial Hospital on Saturday, February 17, 2007. The son of George F. and Lillian (Hyatt) Key, Melvin was born southwest of Lenox, Iowa, on February 5, 1919. He was raised in the Lenox area graduating from Lenox High School in 1940. On June 11, 1940, Mel married Linda Fern Hawthorne in Grant City, Missouri. While in high school, Mel was employed as a clerk in the retail clothing business for Howard's Clothing Store in Lenox. He later worked for Howard's in Anita and Hamburg. In 1952, he and his family moved to Atlantic when he began working in the Atlantic Howard's store. He became a partner in the Atlantic store and continued to work until he retired after 43 years in the clothing business. After retiring from the retail business, he concentrated on the farm he had purchased in Taylor County near Lenox. Mel served in the Navy during WWII and was a member of First United Methodist Church, Elks Club, American Legion, and VFW. He was an active community worker serving as a city councilman, school board member, and volunteer fireman while living in Hamburg as well as a volunteer baseball coach for numerous organizations in Lenox, Hamburg, and Atlantic. He was president of Atlantic Lions and YMCA and was on the YMCA board when the first building was constructed. Mel's contributions to his community and country were commendable, but his family remained his priority. He taught by example. From his example, his children were able to learn about responsibility, commitment, industriousness, self-reliance, and unconditional love. So many powerful lessons from a very unassuming man. Throughout his life he gave his children and grandchildren continuous support and invaluable memories. He is survived by his wife Linda of Atlantic; two sons, Martin Key and wife Carolyn of Atlantic and Patrick Key of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and three daughters, Sheri Johnston and husband Robert of Bloomington, Minnesota, Mary Skoog and husband John of Wheatland, Wyoming, and Teri Key of Encinitas, California. Also surviving are his brother Reldon Key and wife Doris of Lenox, Iowa; daughter-in-law, Sonia Key; grandchildren Maya and Ty Key, Shannon Rocha and husband Randy, Marla Stephens and husband Rob, MacLane Key and wife Allison, Bo Johnston, Josh Johnston and wife Betsy, Zachary and Allison Johnston, Karina Dierks and husband Travis, and Louisa and Jeppa Skoog; great-grandchildren Brandon and Chris Wilkins, Levi Butler, Ryan Smith, Mason Rocha, Kate, Owen, and Hattie Johnston, and Noah Dierks; and Japanese exchange son Sadao Muraoka, his wife Junko, and their daughters Hiromi and Hidemi. He was preceded in death by his parents, one son George F. Key, one brother Kenneth Key, two sisters, Bonnie Trexler and Marie Miller, and three grandchildren.Funeral InformationIN REMEMBRANCE OFMELVIN "MEL" KEYBorn February 5, 1919Southwest of Lenox, IowaENTERED INTO RESTSaturday evening, February 17, 2007At the Cass County Memorial Hospital ~ Atlantic, IowaAt the age of 88 years and 12 daysFUNERAL SERVICESaturday, February 24, 20072:00 P.M.Roland Funeral Home ~ Atlantic, IowaOFFICIATINGReverend Gary DeGeestFirst United Methodist Church ~ Atlantic, IowaMUSICAL SELECTIONSHymn of PromiseOld Rugged CrossClosing Benediction tune to EdelweissBy the CongregationORGANISTMarlene DeGeestBEARERS MacLane Key Bo Johnston Josh Johnston Zach Johnston Jeppa Skoog Travis DierksHONORARY BEARERS Ty Key Lowell Dankof Jim Weitzel Keith Robinson Calvin Hoegh Robert Einhaus Jim Hunt Bruce Behrends Bob WilliamsFLOWER COMMITTEEMr. and Mrs. Lawrence (Max) Bates Linda MarekINTERMENTCommittal Service & Military Rites at the Atlantic Cemetery in Atlantic, Iowa