Melvin C. Brummel, 84, of Leighton, died Wednesday, March 16, 2011, at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella. He was born July 1, 1926, near Leighton, Iowa, the son of Walter and Johanna Kruseman Brummel. He attended grade school at Leighton, and graduated from the Pella Community High School with the class of 1943. On December 8, 1949, he was united in marriage to Ruth J. Van Dyk. In 1948, Mel and his brother Earl purchased the elevator in Leighton. The two of them owned and operated Brummel Bros. as a Purina Dealership. Following Earl's death, Mel continued the business with his sons, Gene and Jerry until his retirement. He was a lifelong, faithful member of Ebenezer Reformed Church where he had served as a deacon. He was a past member of the Leighton City Council, Leighton Lions Club and the Leithton Commercial Club. Melvin enjoyed sports; he played softball for years. He started the Leighton Little League Program, where he coached all of his sons and many other Leithton boys. He loved to golf and often talked of memories from his early morning outings. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye Football fan. Mel and Ruth discovered that the winter weather in Texas was far more enjoyable than the snow and cold of Iowa. They enjoyed many winters in Texas with their friends at the Rollin' Home Park. He treasured the time he was able to spend with his family; he was lovingly called "Big Papa" by his great grandchildren.

Those left to cherish his memory, are his wife of over 61 years Ruth of Leighton; six sons: Gene(Joan)of Leighton, John(Robyn)of Mililani, Hawaii, Jim(Nancy)of Omaha, Nebraska, Jerry(Rhonda)of Pella, Joe(Diana)of Pella, and Jay(Vickie)of Blue Springs, Missouri; 18 grandchildren: Scott, Tim(Sara), Jeff(Kristi), Cory(Tiffany), Casey(Audrey), Jacob(Andrea), Myles, Alex, Abby, Mac, Mary Emily, Zach(Sarah), Andrea(Andrea(Jason), Amber(Kyle), Aleisha(Troy), Brad(Erica), Lindsey, and Beau; 16 great grandchildren: Hilary, Dylan, Treyton, Ava, Dawson, Kalani, Kaniela, Taylor, River, Jayla, Hunter, Carson, Owen, Isaac, Olivier, and Rexton; a brother: Ernie; a sister Joan(Marion) Van Hall; sisters in law: Louise, Mary and Carolyn; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his parents in law: George and Pearl Van Dyk; two grandsons: Joseph and Taylor; five brothers: Raymond, Floyd, Lester, Roy, and Earl; sisters in law: Nellie, Margaret, Joyce, and Marion; and a brother in law: Marion Van Dyk.

Funeral services for Mel Brummel will be Saturday, March 19, 2011, at 10:30 an at Ebenezer Reformed Church in Leighton with Pastor Mark Jicinsky officiating. There will be a Family Devotions at 10:15 am in the chapel at the Church. Private Family Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Leighton. Visitation will be at the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa on Friday from 10 am until 3 pm and then in Leighton at Ebenezer Reformed Church with the family present on Friday from 5:30-7:30 pm. Memorials may be made to Leighton Little League or Leighton Commercial Club.