Melvin L. Wikre

LANESBORO, MINN. - Melvin L. Wikre, Jr., 84, of rural Lanesboro, Minn. died on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wis.Melvin was born on October 26, 1930, in Story City, Iowa to Melvin Sr. and Julia (Berge) Wikre. He moved with his family to St. Paul, Minn. He served in the U.S. Army. On January 2, 1954, Melvin was united in marriage with Dorismae Strandberg in St. Paul. He and Dorismae moved to their place in rural Lanesboro in 1986. Melvin's favorite hobby was airplanes. He loved to fly model airplanes and ultralight airplanes. Melvin also enjoyed fishing and farming.He is survived by his wife, Dorismae; four children: Dale (Joan) Wikre of Spring Valley, Wis., Deborah (Dan) Johnson of Lino Lakes, Minn., Kathy (Roger) Liston of Maplewood, Minn., and Kevin Wikre of Lanesboro, Minn. ; seven grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren; and by two sisters: Gloria (John) Solberg of Peterson, Minn., and Mary (Wally) Smythe of St. Paul, Minn. Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Kenneth Wikre, Sr., and two sisters: Dorothy Walker and Nita Toensing There will be a funeral service at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, June 12, at Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service in Rushford. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Arendahl Lutheran Cemetery in Peterson, Minn.