Melvin Stauffer, 74

Melvin P. Stauffer, age 74, of Mendon, Mich., passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May 23, 2009, at the Three Rivers Health emergency room.
Melvin was born Jan. 14, 1935, in Lancaster, Pa., a son of the late Peter and Amanda (Stoltzfus) Stauffer.
On Sept. 26, 1959, Melvin married Clara Yoder in Leonidas.
He had worked in the RV manufacturing business, retiring from Van Guard Industries of Colon in 1997.
Mel enjoyed being with family and friends, and especially delighted in his grandchildren.  He loved walking in the woods and seeing the beauty of God’s creation.
Melvin was a member of the New Covenant Christian Fellowship in Burr Oak.
He is survived by his wife, Clara, of Mendon; a son, Ernie (Pam) Stauffer of Colon; a daughter, Carol (Joseph) Kotva of Elkhart, Ind.; four grandchildren, Aaron and Lindsay Stauffer and Joseph and Matthew Kotva; a brother, Christian (Leah) Stauffer of Sturgis; six sisters, Mary (Addona) Nissley of Harrisburg, Va., Verna Swartzentruber of Goshen, Ind., Anna Belle Stauffer of Goshen, Ruth (Lew) Stoll of Hillsdale, Elsie (Mike) Showalter of Three Rivers, and Marion (Doyle) Carpenter of Centreville; and many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive relatives and friends from
2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Calvary Chapel, 66969 N. Centreville Road, Sturgis.  Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Calvary Chapel, with Pastor Clint Zehr officiating. A committal service and burial will follow at Locust Grove Cemetery in Findley. 
If desired, the family suggests memorials be made in memory of Melvin to the New Covenant Christian Fellowship Church for MDS Mennonite Disaster Service.  Envelopes will be available at the church or at the Schipper Funeral Home in Colon.