Melvin Wile, a longtime resident of Pomeroy, passed away peacefully on February 15, 2014 at the age of 95 years.
He was born on August 20, 1918 and raised on a farm near Fonda. Melvin attended country school with an older brother and younger sister during the depression years. In 1941, after the onset of World War II, Melvin was inducted into the US Army and chosen to serve in the Army Air Corps, fulfilling a life-long desire to fly! He trained as a waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator and was assigned to the 389th Bomb Group based in Norwich, England, where the crew flew a series of dangerous missions over occupied France and Germany. On December 22, 1943, on the crew's 10th mission, Melvin's plane was shot down by enemy fire and crash landed. Seriously wounded, he was taken prisoner. After treatment in German hospitals, he was transferred to Luft VI and then Luft IV where he endured forced marches, little food and horrific conditions as a POW. After being held for approximately 1 1/2 years as a POW, Melvin was among the soldiers enduring a forced 86 day, 500 mile Death March from Germany to Lucky Strike Camp in France. Ultimately, liberation came on April 26, 1945, a day Melvin said "I will never forget as long as I live!".
Melvin married Benita Quinn on August 7, 1945 at OLGC in Fonda. They farmed near Varina, then Pomeroy until retiring from farming in 1980 and moving into Pomeroy. Melvin also did custom wiring for many years. They raised 4 children. For many years, Benita & Melvin wintered in Arizona and Texas until Benita's passing on May 28, 2001. Melvin married Margueritte Wile in 2002 and they moved to Ft. Dodge in 2009.
Melvin served as Butler Township Clerk, Director of Farmers Coop Elevator, Member and Commander of AMVETS and Vice Commander of State Ex-POW Chapter. Melvin was a long time member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Survivors include Melvin's second wife, Margueritte, children: Patricia (Damascus, Oregon), Coleen (Sioux Falls, SD), and Dean (College Station, Texas), 7 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.
He also leaves behind a sister Maxine Thieking.
Melvin was preceded in death by his first wife, Benita, son, Milton and daughter in law, Mickie Wile, as well as siblings: Lloyd, Vera Mae and Reuben.
In addition to family and friends, Melvin enjoyed reading, travel and fishing. Memorials in Melvin’s name may be made to Pomeroy Fire Department or Pomeroy Historical Society.
Funeral
Friday February 21, 2014, 1:30 PM at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pomeroy, Iowa
NOTE CHANGE IN FUNERAL AND VISITATION TIMES DUE TO WEATHER.
Visitation
Friday February 21, 2014, 10:00 am - 1:30 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pomeroy, Iowa
He was born on August 20, 1918 and raised on a farm near Fonda. Melvin attended country school with an older brother and younger sister during the depression years. In 1941, after the onset of World War II, Melvin was inducted into the US Army and chosen to serve in the Army Air Corps, fulfilling a life-long desire to fly! He trained as a waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator and was assigned to the 389th Bomb Group based in Norwich, England, where the crew flew a series of dangerous missions over occupied France and Germany. On December 22, 1943, on the crew's 10th mission, Melvin's plane was shot down by enemy fire and crash landed. Seriously wounded, he was taken prisoner. After treatment in German hospitals, he was transferred to Luft VI and then Luft IV where he endured forced marches, little food and horrific conditions as a POW. After being held for approximately 1 1/2 years as a POW, Melvin was among the soldiers enduring a forced 86 day, 500 mile Death March from Germany to Lucky Strike Camp in France. Ultimately, liberation came on April 26, 1945, a day Melvin said "I will never forget as long as I live!".
Melvin married Benita Quinn on August 7, 1945 at OLGC in Fonda. They farmed near Varina, then Pomeroy until retiring from farming in 1980 and moving into Pomeroy. Melvin also did custom wiring for many years. They raised 4 children. For many years, Benita & Melvin wintered in Arizona and Texas until Benita's passing on May 28, 2001. Melvin married Margueritte Wile in 2002 and they moved to Ft. Dodge in 2009.
Melvin served as Butler Township Clerk, Director of Farmers Coop Elevator, Member and Commander of AMVETS and Vice Commander of State Ex-POW Chapter. Melvin was a long time member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Survivors include Melvin's second wife, Margueritte, children: Patricia (Damascus, Oregon), Coleen (Sioux Falls, SD), and Dean (College Station, Texas), 7 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.
He also leaves behind a sister Maxine Thieking.
Melvin was preceded in death by his first wife, Benita, son, Milton and daughter in law, Mickie Wile, as well as siblings: Lloyd, Vera Mae and Reuben.
In addition to family and friends, Melvin enjoyed reading, travel and fishing. Memorials in Melvin’s name may be made to Pomeroy Fire Department or Pomeroy Historical Society.
Funeral
Friday February 21, 2014, 1:30 PM at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pomeroy, Iowa
NOTE CHANGE IN FUNERAL AND VISITATION TIMES DUE TO WEATHER.
Visitation
Friday February 21, 2014, 10:00 am - 1:30 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pomeroy, Iowa
Melvin Wile, a longtime resident of Pomeroy, passed away peacefully on February 15, 2014 at the age of 95 years.
He was born on August 20, 1918 and raised on a farm near Fonda. Melvin attended country school with an older brother and younger sister during the depression years. In 1941, after the onset of World War II, Melvin was inducted into the US Army and chosen to serve in the Army Air Corps, fulfilling a life-long desire to fly! He trained as a waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator and was assigned to the 389th Bomb Group based in Norwich, England, where the crew flew a series of dangerous missions over occupied France and Germany. On December 22, 1943, on the crew's 10th mission, Melvin's plane was shot down by enemy fire and crash landed. Seriously wounded, he was taken prisoner. After treatment in German hospitals, he was transferred to Luft VI and then Luft IV where he endured forced marches, little food and horrific conditions as a POW. After being held for approximately 1 1/2 years as a POW, Melvin was among the soldiers enduring a forced 86 day, 500 mile Death March from Germany to Lucky Strike Camp in France. Ultimately, liberation came on April 26, 1945, a day Melvin said "I will never forget as long as I live!".
Melvin married Benita Quinn on August 7, 1945 at OLGC in Fonda. They farmed near Varina, then Pomeroy until retiring from farming in 1980 and moving into Pomeroy. Melvin also did custom wiring for many years. They raised 4 children. For many years, Benita & Melvin wintered in Arizona and Texas until Benita's passing on May 28, 2001. Melvin married Margueritte Wile in 2002 and they moved to Ft. Dodge in 2009.
Melvin served as Butler Township Clerk, Director of Farmers Coop Elevator, Member and Commander of AMVETS and Vice Commander of State Ex-POW Chapter. Melvin was a long time member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Survivors include Melvin's second wife, Margueritte, children: Patricia (Damascus, Oregon), Coleen (Sioux Falls, SD), and Dean (College Station, Texas), 7 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.
He also leaves behind a sister Maxine Thieking.
Melvin was preceded in death by his first wife, Benita, son, Milton and daughter in law, Mickie Wile, as well as siblings: Lloyd, Vera Mae and Reuben.
In addition to family and friends, Melvin enjoyed reading, travel and fishing. Memorials in Melvin’s name may be made to Pomeroy Fire Department or Pomeroy Historical Society.
Funeral
Friday February 21, 2014, 1:30 PM at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pomeroy, Iowa
NOTE CHANGE IN FUNERAL AND VISITATION TIMES DUE TO WEATHER.
Visitation
Friday February 21, 2014, 10:00 am - 1:30 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pomeroy, Iowa
He was born on August 20, 1918 and raised on a farm near Fonda. Melvin attended country school with an older brother and younger sister during the depression years. In 1941, after the onset of World War II, Melvin was inducted into the US Army and chosen to serve in the Army Air Corps, fulfilling a life-long desire to fly! He trained as a waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator and was assigned to the 389th Bomb Group based in Norwich, England, where the crew flew a series of dangerous missions over occupied France and Germany. On December 22, 1943, on the crew's 10th mission, Melvin's plane was shot down by enemy fire and crash landed. Seriously wounded, he was taken prisoner. After treatment in German hospitals, he was transferred to Luft VI and then Luft IV where he endured forced marches, little food and horrific conditions as a POW. After being held for approximately 1 1/2 years as a POW, Melvin was among the soldiers enduring a forced 86 day, 500 mile Death March from Germany to Lucky Strike Camp in France. Ultimately, liberation came on April 26, 1945, a day Melvin said "I will never forget as long as I live!".
Melvin married Benita Quinn on August 7, 1945 at OLGC in Fonda. They farmed near Varina, then Pomeroy until retiring from farming in 1980 and moving into Pomeroy. Melvin also did custom wiring for many years. They raised 4 children. For many years, Benita & Melvin wintered in Arizona and Texas until Benita's passing on May 28, 2001. Melvin married Margueritte Wile in 2002 and they moved to Ft. Dodge in 2009.
Melvin served as Butler Township Clerk, Director of Farmers Coop Elevator, Member and Commander of AMVETS and Vice Commander of State Ex-POW Chapter. Melvin was a long time member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Survivors include Melvin's second wife, Margueritte, children: Patricia (Damascus, Oregon), Coleen (Sioux Falls, SD), and Dean (College Station, Texas), 7 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.
He also leaves behind a sister Maxine Thieking.
Melvin was preceded in death by his first wife, Benita, son, Milton and daughter in law, Mickie Wile, as well as siblings: Lloyd, Vera Mae and Reuben.
In addition to family and friends, Melvin enjoyed reading, travel and fishing. Memorials in Melvin’s name may be made to Pomeroy Fire Department or Pomeroy Historical Society.
Funeral
Friday February 21, 2014, 1:30 PM at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pomeroy, Iowa
NOTE CHANGE IN FUNERAL AND VISITATION TIMES DUE TO WEATHER.
Visitation
Friday February 21, 2014, 10:00 am - 1:30 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pomeroy, Iowa
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