Melvin L. Visser

Melvin Lyle Visser born November 9, 1937 to Harold Cooper & Nellie Belle Bain Visser at the home he grew up in southwest of Oskaloosa. He attended the Riverside Country School, a one room schoolhouse thru the 8th grade. Upon graduating the eighth grade he attended Oskaloosa High School, was a member of the FFA, and was a 1955 graduate. During these years he also belonged to the Garfield 4H and took his livestock to the County and State fairs. He attended Iowa State University and Iowa Wesleyan College.

On February 23, 1957 he married Marla Lou Jones at the United Methodist Church in Williamsburg, Iowa. To this union four daughters were born. Melvin and his family moved around a lot living in Oskaloosa, Joetown, Kinross, Keota, Morning Sun, Alden, Eldora. He also worked a variety of jobs mostly in the agricultural field. However, while in Joetown he was Methodist minister for three little Parishes in the Johnson County and surrounding area for a short period, and interim Pastor for the Christian Church in Kinross. He did continue throughout his life being a lay pastor in the Methodist Church for several years. He served on the city council in Morning Sun while living there. Continuing with his service to the Methodist Church, Melvin was a chairman for Family Ministries while living in southeast Iowa, which later led him to be on the family ministries committee on the state level. In addition to his full-time job, he started a plant business Gazebo Gardens in Eldora, Iowa. He married Carol Floyd Gross on August 17, 2001. After retiring they built a house and moved to Altoona, Iowa. He started a new business, Car-Mel Gardens selling a variety of plants mostly Hostas. Melvin was a member for several years of the Ivy Methodist Church in Altoona. At the end of 2016 Melvin moved to Prairie Vista Retirement Center where he lived until a few days before his death.

Throughout his life Melvin had many different interests, talents and hobbies. He could fix or build almost anything. But his gift was gardening, and he shared that by volunteering with the Master Gardeners helping to put in the Enabling Garden in Altoona and the Greater Des Moines Botanical Center for years. He also enjoyed writing, jigsaw puzzles and playing on his computer. Melvin was also very proud of his heritage especially being a Dutchman. He loved his family past and present.

Melvin passed away July 10, 2019 and was under the loving care and support of his family and Unity Point Hospice at Taylor House. Services will be at Hamilton Funeral Home in Altoona, 105 4th St. SW, Altoona on Saturday, July 13, 2019 with visitation at 9:00 a.m. and Services at 10:00 a.m. There will be a private family burial at the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Surviving are his wife Carol Floyd Gross Visser. Daughters Deborah Lou Visser Maxey (Philip), Tamara Belle Visser (Randall Kuchenberg), Amy Beth Visser Harkey (Bruce Strohmeyer) and Laura Helen Visser. Five Grandchildren Jessica (Brandon) Bunch, Arron Schmitt (Katie Cole), Rebecca (Adam) Newton, Meagan Visser, & Pamela Maxey and eight Great Grandchildren. He leaves four brothers Donald Visser, Gilbert Visser, Robert (Beverly) Visser and Merle (Pat) Visser. Special family Dr. Warren Jones, John Gross (Cindy), Leigh Ann Gross Powell (Dale), and Janice McBurney. Also, so very many other dear family and friends.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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