Gary A. Melvin, 83 of Kalamazoo, died Sunday, May 7, at his home.
He was the husband of Joan (Bode) Melvin. They met at the Wesley Foundation at Ferris Institute in 1959, wed in 1963, and would have been married 60 years in August.
Gary was a 1958 graduate of Schoolcraft High School, and a graduate of Ferris, where he was a member of Delta Sigma Phi. He was an agent with the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network for 41 years and obtained the chartered life underwriter and chartered financial consultant designations from the American College along with becoming a life member of the elite Million Dollar Round Table.
Gary was active in community affairs and served on many boards, such as Martin School Board, Allegan County Board of Commissioners, Pipp Hospital, Allegan General Hospital, Outlook Academy, Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity. He was a member of the Rotary Club where he received the Paul Harris Fellow Award.
As a member of the Martin United Methodist Church for 40 years, he chaired many meetings, activities, and chaired the building addition in 1989. He trained as a Stephen Leader with the Stephen Ministry and was involved in helping others for years. After moving to Kalamazoo in 2015, he joined the Westwood United Methodist Church and became an active member there, serving on the trustee committee.
Gary loved reading newspapers and books, hunting, fishing, traveling and camping with his family. As part of the NOMADS (Nomads On a Mission of Active Divine Service) team, he traveled around the United States with Joan in their RV, helping others for 16 years after retirement. Joan and Gary also spent many winters in their Lake Placid, Fla., condo where they volunteered at Florida hospital. As a member of the Audubon Society, they went on many birding trips. Joan and Gary also enjoyed traveling to various parts of the world.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Christine and Howard Melvin and his son, Greg Melvin.
He is survived by his wife, Joan, his children Diane Melvin of Plainwell; Greg’s wife Lisa Melvin of Dexter; and his grandchildren, Courtney, Katrina, and Sam Melvin of Dexter, Christine (Zane) Snarski, of Holland, Joshua (Noel) Melvin, and a great grandson, Valen of Plainwell, a sister Kay (John) Wynne of Lexington, SC, a nephew, Patrick (Valeriane) Casciolo, and family of Darien, CT and a niece, Michelle Casciolo of Berlin, Germany, along with many cousins
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 19, at the Martin United Methodist Church, 969 East Allegan St. Another visitation will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 20, at the Westwood United Methodist Church, 538 Nichols Road in Kalamazoo. A celebration of life service will be held at noon and will be livestreamed on Facebook or at the church website, www.westwood-umc.org.
Gary has donated his body for research to the Western Michigan University School of Medicine.
Memorials may be made to any of the following ministries: Martin United Methodist Church, Christian Neighbors of Plainwell, Westwood United Methodist Church or Ministry with Community.
