Meville "Mel" Stump

November 07, 2021

Meville "Mel" Stump

Service Details

Meville "Mel" Stump, age 79, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2021 at Unity Point Iowa Methodist Medical Center.

Mel was born October 9, 1942 in Des Moines, Iowa to Charles and Calla (Watters) Stump. He was one of two siblings. Mel was a lifelong resident of the Des Moines area. He was a proud graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School. Mel attended college at Northwestern Missouri State University in the hopes of becoming an art teacher and was a member of Phi Sigma Epsilon fraternity. Mel met his future wife Marylin Kane at Lincoln High School and they were married in 1963 at Christ the King Church. Their union lasted 25 years. Over the course of their marriage they were blessed with four children - Ramona, Bryant, Lisa and Darin.

Mel was an extremely talented artist achieving various scholastic art awards for his work in high school and college. He was also a master carpenter and construction superintendent. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Like his father Charlie, Mel could build, remodel or repair anything of any size or scope. He built his own home where his family lived for 35 years.

Mel’s work took him to places all over the United States and Saudi Arabia to oversee projects. Mel was the superintendent in charge of construction of the altar and stage built for the 1979 Saint Pope John Paul II visit to Iowa at Living History Farms attended by 350,000 people from around the country. He was very proud and humbled by that undertaking. He loved his work and was extremely sad to retire from the trades later in life.

Mel was a member of the Izaak Walton League. He was also a member of the “Liars Club” his local coffee group at HyVee Southridge.

Those left to cherish Mel’s memory are his children, Ramona Pope (Ron), Bryant Stump (Patty), Lisa McCarty, Darin Stump (Crystal); 8 grandchildren, Brandon Stump, Cheree Stump, Ryan Stump, Anwen Pope, Nate Stump, Colin Pope, Corben Stump, Marshall Stump; niece, Kimberly Heyer- Upton; many cousins and other family members.

Mel was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Calla and his sister LaDonna Heyer.

The family will greet friends Monday, November 15, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with the funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m.at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be directed in loving memory of Meville Stump to the American Lung Association.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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