James O. Otis' Mellenbruch
July 7, 1914 ~ June 17, 2015
Resided in:
Florence, CO
James Otis Mellenbruch, twenty days shy of his one hundred and first birthday, while in the loving care of the staff at Bruce McCandless VA care facility, passed on to the green pastures and cornfields of that grand and glorious farmstead in the beyond on June 17, 2015.
The great joys of his life were his farming roots, his military service, his term as Kiwanis president, his collection of antique farming equipment, the Mellenbruch family lineage, and his wife of 74 years Virginia Stumbo, who preceded him in death.
He leaves to enjoy his life stories and their memories of interactions with him his following three generations: his great-grandchildren, Dayton, son of Bryan (Becky Roth) Morgan, Catherine and Audrey, daughters of Thane (Ginger) Morgan, as well as, Beckett and Ian, sons of Sean (Pam Liu) Morgan; his daughter, Elizabeth Ann 'Betsy' Morgan; and his grandson, Ashton, son of Otis' son, John Grant (Margie) Mellenbruch.
Services will be held at the interment of his ashes in Mellenbruch family cemetery at Immanuel Lutheran Church, in Brown County, Kansas at Old Fairview at the next Fred Mellenbruch Family Reunion. Online condolences, www.montgomerysteward.com
Betsy and family. We are so sorry to hear of the loss of Otis. He was a special part of Rye. Though did know him well we enjoyed the few times we spent with him and we know how much they meant to my mother. HE WILL BE MISSED
I am the daughter in law of Frank Allee, son of Hazel (Mellenbruch) Allee, and grandson of Henry Mellenbruch. I am married to Richard Allee, Frank’s son. I only met Uncle Otis once, and that was at the 100-year Mellenbruch reunion in 1996 in Fairview, Kansas. He had a spark for life, and a gentle and kind loving way about him that stuck with me. Virginia was such a sweet woman, too. Much love and comfort to those closest to him.
Otis lived long and well. Mike worked for him at Rio Grande Motor Way and Otis and Virginia invited us out to the home in Rye which we & our children enjoyed–they were proud of the old farm machinery and making things the old ways such as Virginia\’s rag rugs. Fond memories of them both and wish them peace and rest. Mike passed away in 2007.
Our condolences from the residents
of Bruce McCandless Veterans Home.
Otis was a great person, we loved to be around him.