Melvin Stillwell

Melvin "Mel" Stillwell, a true Denver native and original, died peacefully in his home on May 7, 2022. He was 91. One of fourteen children, Mel went from polio survivor to South High School alum to U.S. Marine. As noted by The Rocky Mountain News on January 29, 1951, he wasn't alone in heading to war that year: five of his brothers reported for active duty in Korea at the same time. All made it home.
After a stretch as a toy buyer in downtown Denver's iconic retail stores, which was a boon for his young sons, he went on to help establish Wausau Insurance Company as an important workers compensation provider from Denver to Greeley and beyond. His intuitive sense of 'sales-as-relationships' was coupled with a tireless work ethic. And he didn't stop there.
Following retirement, he brought his passion for learning to the "The Great Books" and 100s of classical music compositions. Hardly a page or margin was devoid of his personal annotations. With his wife Virginia Marie, who pre-deceased him by more than a decade, they set a firm foundation for four sons to carve out their own fulfilling paths.
In addition to the siblings he lost over the years (Richard, Lester "Bus", Lois, Robert, Clarence "BB", Margaret, Donald "Boomy", and Francis "Franny"), he is survived by brothers Warren "Toots", Arthur; sisters Patricia, Kathy "Tiny", Judy; sons Melvin Duane (Judi Sperber), Stephen Brian (Sharla), Daniel Joseph (Stacey), Jeffrey Alan (Angela Lavery); eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
While being lovingly cared for by his sons, he spent his last days demanding cheeseburgers, worrying about how his hair looked, and most importantly reaffirming his love for his family.
Services will be held at 10:30 am on Thursday, May 26, 2022, Horan & McConaty, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood CO 80227, followed by a committal ceremony with military honors at 12:00 noon, Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver CO.