Melvin Wieck

Melvin Wieck, a devoted husband and father, skilled woodcraftsman, and community volunteer, died peacefully March 5 at Collier Hospice surrounded by his family. He was 91.

Mel was the fourth of seven children born in St. Francis, Kansas to Elizabeth (Wickwar) Wieck and William Riley Wieck. After graduating from high school, he helped build the Bonny Dam in Yuma, Colorado. He met the love of his life Rena (Stuhlmiller) at a dance and they dated for about a year before he was drafted into the Korean War. When the Army released him for medical reasons, he returned to St. Francis and was waiting in his snazzy convertible to ask Rena to be his wife. They married in 1951 and celebrated their 69th anniversary in February.

Mel briefly farmed in Kansas, where they had their first two daughters Kris and Kathy. They moved to Colorado in 1955 and after working briefly in the dairy industry in Colorado Springs, the family moved to Denver and had two more daughters, Karyl and Mary Jean. Mel went to work for Sundstrand Aviation in Denver, in 1956, and remained with the company for 33 years. He started as a machinist and worked his way up through the company, eventually becoming a liaison computer engineer. In 1977, he took the family to Singapore for a year to help open a new branch for Sundstrand. He was asked to manage the entire operation but decided to return to Colorado to be close to family and friends.

Although he continued to work at Sundstrand, he, Rena and her parents also opened the North Valley Liquor store in Thornton, Colorado, which the family ran for about six years. After that, he and Rena bought the Happy Valley Children's Ranch, a highly acclaimed preschool in Arvada, Colorado which they helped run until 1992, when the business was taken over by Mary Jean and her husband, who sold it in 2015.

Mel was a volunteer for several organizations, starting with the Commerce City Fire Department where he volunteered for 12 years until he and Rena moved to Arvada, Colorado in 1980. After retirement, he joined the Shriners, a volunteer organization. He especially enjoyed the Shriner's RV Roamers, a group dedicated to traveling in their RV's. Mel and Rena loved traveling with the group all over the United States and Canada. The two also traveled to Mexico, throughout Europe, and took cruises to Alaska and the Panama Canal.

Mel was a kind, gentle man who had many friends because he was so easy to love. He had a true zest for life. He loved motorcycles, water skiing, playing volleyball, family camping trips, and especially traveling with Rena. He was a highly skilled, self-taught and creative woodworker and spent many hours in his workshop, building a beautiful grandfather clock, cribs, a curio cabinet, jewelry boxes and many games.

In addition to his wife Rena, he is survived by his daughters, Kris Poulignot (Dan), Kathy (Colette) Cribari (Jim), Karyl Jessen, and Mary Jean Boyer (Chuck); grandchildren Aimee (Dennis), Angie (Kevin), Tyson (Laure), Adam, Cole, Kelsey, Alex (Jessica), Lindsey, Kim (Jon), Molly (Nick); 10 great grandchildren and his sister-in-law Shirley Wieck.

In addition to his parents he is predeceased by his siblings Lorence, Don (Betty), Betty Zweygardt (Ruben), Barbara Raile (Paul), Bob and Bill (Margie).

A "Celebration of Life" service will be held at  Stonebrook Manor Events Center located at 650 E. 124th Ave., Thornton, Colorado. Memorials can be sent to Shriners Hospital For Children, Processing Center P.O. Box 1525 Ranson, West Virginia 25438-0018.