Earl L. Mellick

NORFOLK – Funeral service for Earl Louis Mellick, 82, of Norfolk, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 18, 2025 at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Norfolk. Rev. Paul Hirsch will be officiating the service. Interment will be held at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, Norfolk. Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday, at Stonacek Funeral Chapel, Norfolk. Military rites will be conducted by the American Legion Post 16, V.F.W. Post 1644, and the United States Army Honor Guard. Earl passed away on Friday, July 11, 2025 at the Wisner Care Center in Wisner. Stonacek Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Earl was born April 4, 1943 in Wayne, Nebraska, to Carl and Grace (Miller) Mellick. He was baptized and confirmed at the Wayne Methodist Church, and grew up with his beloved brothers and sisters on his great-uncle Ed Mellick’s farm south of Wayne, where his father was a farmer and where Earl developed a love for hunting. He attended Wayne Public Schools where he played in the high school band, and graduated in 1961. After graduation, he worked for several area farms, especially Gansebom Farms in Osmond, where he developed his passion for all things John Deere. In 1965, Earl enlisted in the Army and trained at Fort Leonard Wood before being sent to Fort Wainwright and Fort Richardson in Alaska for two years during the Vietnam War. After returning to Nebraska, Earl was hired by Sexaur Seeds, which evolved into Land ‘O Lakes/Felco. Not long after his return, he was on a double date when he found himself more interested in the best friend of the woman he was dating. The “other woman” was Linda Vahsholz, the love of his life, and after dating for a year they married on June 23, 1968, in Stanton. They settled in Norfolk, and became lifelong members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Norfolk. Earl and Linda had two children—daughter Michelle, born in 1969, and son Mark, born in 1976. Earl worked for Land ‘O Lakes/Felco for thirty-three years. After retiring, Earl worked for the Leprino Milk Plant, the Norfolk Daily News and for Superior Car Wash for ten years. Earl had a love for card and bingo games, collecting anything John Deere, as well as working in his garage with his impressive tool collection which evolved from his other major hobby of stalking garage sales for whatever struck his fancy. As he grew older, he became very active with the Wayne High School Alumni and especially the Norfolk Senior Center, in addition to spoiling his four grandchildren with everything from rides on his riding mower to buying them pet chickens. As Linda’s health began to fail, he dedicated himself to caring for her at their home until she passed away on April 17, 2023. Soon afterward, Earl’s own health began to fail, and in 2024 he moved to the Shamrock Assisted Living Center in Wisner to be closer to family. At Shamrock as well as the Wisner Care Center, he charmed employees, made many new friends and ruthlessly dominated bingo games. Earl’s life journey ended July 11th, 2025 at the Wisner Care Center. Earl is survived by his two children—daughter Michelle Moeller and husband Gregg of Wisner; son Mark Mellick and wife Jana of Omaha; four grandchildren—Elizabeth Moeller of Norfolk; Paige Moeller of Omaha, Seh Na Mellick of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Sebastian Mellick of Omaha, two sisters—Joanne Furlong of Plattsmouth and Edie Lizee of Washington, one sister-in-law-Belinda Mellick of Lincoln. Earl was preceded in death by his wife, Linda; his parents, brothers Jim Mellick and Harold Mellick, and brothers-in-law Jim Furlong and Duane Choate. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

Tributes

Earl L. Mellick

April 4, 1943 - July 11, 2025