Obituary of Mel Mudge

Melville Robinson Mudge On July 25th, 2009 Mel passed away peacefully into the presence of God while in the Jubilee Home in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. His body could no longer contain his Spirit! Even though we as his family celebrate that he is with his Maker and free of bodily aches and pains - he is still greatly missed by those remaining but he has left all with a rich heritage of faith in God, loving family and a legacy of solid ethics. We are grateful that we had him with us as long as we did - nearly 92 years. Mel came to know God personally at a very young age and this influenced his entire life and family. He is survived by his loving wife Frieda, his sons Walter of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Gerald (Gloria) of Mississauga, Ontario and their children, Charmaine (Mark) Balmer (great grandchildren Jake, Zane, Mallory) of Freeport, Illinois; Paula (Gordon) Maretzki (great grandchildren Sydney, Jesse, Davy, Sawyer, Jude, Jinger of Oakville, Ontario; Sandee (Duncan) Macgregor (great grandchildren Christopher, Jack, Samantha, Sara)of Mississauga, Ontario; Burke of Mississauga, Ontario; Charles (known as Chuck) of Lloydminster Saskatchewan; and Don (Hilda) and their children, Andrew, Derek and Amanda of North Battleford, Saskatchewan. On August 12th, 1917 Mel was born in the Lloydminster Hospital to Ben and Elsie Mudge. He was the youngest of four children and was predeceased by one brother, Benjamin Jr.; and two sisters, Mary and Phoebe. Mel met Frieda Emelie Urbschat at the annual school picnic in Greenstreet, Saskatchewan in June, 1935. They were married on May 27, 1937 and had a full and wonderful married life. Mel and Frieda were very devoted to each other and celebrated many wonderful anniversaries together including the 72nd this past May - remarkable in this day, and have been a wonderful example not only for their children but for many others. Mel served in the Canadian army from June 10, 1941 joining the XII Manitoba Dragoons as part of the 18th Reconnaissance Battalion. The first fourteen months were spent in camps in Manitoba, British Columbia and Ontario, receiving his basic training. He left Halifax in August 1942, remaining in Europe until October, 1945 serving as a mechanic for his regiment in France, Holland and Germany. He returned to Frieda in Winnipeg in late October, 1945. He returned to his father's farm and farmed full time until 1974 when he and Chuck began custom work as carpenters. In the 1970's his lifelong love of working with wood emerged again as they began to produce wood crafts, doing custom work and attending shows. In addition, He and his son, Chuck worked for the RM of Brittania for many years. Mel's health finally forced him to abandon his woodworking and RM work but he continued to live on the farm until entering Jubilee Home in the winter of 2008. We as a family are very grateful to our great neighbours as Mel and Frieda enjoyed many visits and functions with them over the years. A man has a very brief time on earth to make his footprints count and Mel's values have left their mark on his family from children to great grandchildren. Funeral Services were held in McCaw Funeral Chapel of Lloydminster, Alberta at 1:30 pm, July 30, 2009. Interment took place in the Albion Cemetery and a reception was held at the North Bend-Albion Community Hall. Card of Thanks Thanks to each of you who have shared many gracious thoughts with the family. Our sincere thanks to all those who shared in Mel's care as he spent time in the Maidstone and Lloydminster Hospitals and Lloydminster's Jubilee Home in the past four years. We wish to thank Dr. Snyman for her care of Mel. Our family also wish to thank all the neighbours and friends who visited, phoned, sent flowers and cards or made donations on Mel's behalf. Our thanks also to Reverend Allan Young and his wife, Jeanette for their part in the funeral service. We greatly appreciated the help of the North Bend-Albion Hall Board and the Norbion Ladies Club for preparing the reception following Mel's funeral. Our thanks to McCaw Funeral Service Ltd. for their care and attention throughout the week following Mel's death. Donations in memory of Mel may be made to the Jubilee Gems.