MELVIN E. BLUNT

Article Photos

Melvin E. Blunt, 80, of Fort Dodge, passed away in his home on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. Melvin will be cremated and a memorial service will be held at 11 a,m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009 at the Gunderson Funeral Chapel. Burial of Melvin's cremated remains will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Fort Dodge. The visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday prior to the service at Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Melvin was born in Fort Dodge on Oct. 31, 1928 to Wilsie and Caroline Blunt. He grew up attending school in Fort Dodge and then joined the U.S. Navy in 1946. He served during World War II and then joined the Navy Reserves. He married Patricia Payne on July 10, 1950. He was then called back to serve during the Korean Conflict. When he was discharged from the Navy he began working for the Railroad starting with the M & St. L, then Chicago North Western and then retiring from Union Pacific in 1980. He was a member of the local VFW Post 1856 and a life long member of UTU. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and gambling.

Melvin is survived by his wife Patricia; son Lane (Ranee) Blunt of Batavia, Iowa; daughters, Nancy Blades of Fort Dodge, Carolyn Amendt of Fairfield, Iowa, Melva Dominguez of Colorado Springs, Colo., Jackie (Doug) Baker of Fort Dodge, Wendy (Dave) Coleman of Mansfield, Texas, and Holly (Mark) Shipman of Lake Dallas, Texas; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and sister Jean Whittington of Rochester, Ind. Melvin was preceded in death by his grandsons, Nathan Frank, Andy Shipman and Brad Smith; his parents Wilsie and Caroline; and sisters, Marcille Risdall, Margaret Willie, Donna Phillips and Mary MacDonald.