New Hampton ~~~  Elma

"Providing you with peace of mind, comfort, and support."

Words of Comfort for the family

Melvin John O’Donnell, age 91, of Elma, died on Monday, December 17, 2007, at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Elma.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 21, 2007, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Elma, with Rev. Ray E. Atwood officiating.  Interment will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery at St. Cecelia, Iowa. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 20, 2007 at the Conway-Kolbet Funeral Home in Elma where there will be a scripture wake service at 5:00 pm and a rosary at 6:00 pm.   Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Melvin was born June 27, 1916, one-half mile north of the St. Cecelia Church, in Howard County, Iowa, the son of Robert and Catherine (Tierney) O’Donnell.  He attended country schools and graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy in Elma in 1934.  Melvin farmed with his father and brothers on the family farm west of Elma. In 1974, Melvin and his brother, Mike, moved to Elma. He continued to farm after the move in to town. Melvin took a great interest in the operation of the rock quarry that is located on the family farm. He enjoyed antique tractors, hunting, politics, playing baseball on the Elma town team, visiting with friends, and spending time with his nieces and nephews and their families. Melvin will be remembered for his deep, abiding faith and the kindness that he showed to all, especially his family.

Melvin is survived by his nieces and nephews, Russell O’Donnell and his wife Margaret of Elma, Ann Neubauer and her husband Joe of Cresco, Joyce Ives and her husband Gail of New Hampton, Gerald O’Donnell and his wife Barb of Cresco, Lavon Fye and her husband Galen of Cresco, Lois Recker and her husband Don of Mankato, Minnesota, Ron O’Donnell and his wife Linda of Elma, and Mary Bucheit and her husband Tom of Osage, and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Francis, Mike and Raphael O’Donnell; one niece, Sharon (O’Donnell) Stover; and two nephews, Jerome and Eugene O’Donnell and  two sisters-in-law Loretta and Marie O’Donnell.

Memorials may be directed to friends of St. Patrick’s Chapel of St. Cecelia.