Victor Mele

Victor Joseph Mele, 80, of Des Moines, passed away April 10, 2025 at EveryStep Kavanagh House.

He was born October 16, 1944 in Des Moines to Vincent and Rose Mele.

Victor graduated from Dowling High School in 1962. He started working for Massey Ferguson and ended his career as a loan administrator at Wells Fargo.

Vic had many interests in life including pheasant hunting and fishing with his Dad and the boys, softball with Gary Thorpe and the PWP gang. He loved golfing with Gary and Larry Beltrame and of course with his boys for their annual Mele Golf Classic. He traveled the world with Nancy Vaughn and Larry & Gina Beltrame. He most of all loved playing poker in Las Vegas and Prairie Meadows. His favorite part was tournaments, especially when he had a “big stack”. He would happily retell every hand, even after your eyes glazed over. Vic always lived life to the fullest while singing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” at the top of his lungs. He will be missed.

He is survived by his sons, John Mele, Thomas Mele, and Steve (Tomoko) Mele; grandchildren, Rosalie (Zach) Hamilton, Esther Mele, Ezekiel Mele, Venice Mele, Viviana Mele, and Kaira Mele; great-grandchildren, Leahna Hamilton and Emalyne Hamilton; sister, Lucille Mele Spencer; love of his life, Nancy Vaughn and her daughter, Jennifer Robinson and her son, Alex.

The family will be greeting friends from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 20, at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home; 5400 SW 9th Street, Des Moines. Funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 21, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church; 15 Indianola Road, Des Moines. Mr. Mele will be laid to rest at Glendale Cemetery. For those unable to attend, the funeral mass will be live streamed on Hamilton’s website.

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church or to St. Jude Hospital.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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