Date of Birth: September 5, 1926
Date of Death: July 3, 2020
Frank Schmeltzer of Melville, beloved husband of Evelyn, entered his eternal rest on Friday, July 3, 2020 at the age of 76 years.
Frank was born in Grayson, Sask. on Sept 5, 1943 to Nick and Mary Schmeltzer of Killaly.
He received his education at Wallacetown School, one mile away from his parents’ farm. At the age of 16 he left school and started farming with his dad. In his youth he would spend his winters trapping and hunting small animals, he would also play softball as a back catcher, passing his skills onto the third generation.
On July 15, 1966 he married the love of his life, Evelyn Lipinski, and they took over the farming operation. Frank and Evelyn were blessed with four sons, Michael, Neil, Keith and Mark.
In 1976 he studied and received his Power Engineering certificate and started working at St. Peter’s Hospital in Melville, eventually taking the position of chief engineer and director of maintenance in 1983. His career at the hospital spanned over a period of 27 years. During this time he also carried on the operation of the family farm, eventually building up his herd of cattle and acquiring more farmland. He had many other interests – driving and training his horses, going on trail rides, getting to as many auction sales as he could, camping, going to chuckwagon races and rodeos, hunting with his sons, taking a leisure drive down the country roads checking all the crops, fishing and of course stopping along the way for coffee and conversations. He was involved in his sons activities, watching them playing softball, football, basketball, curling, 4-H and music, and helped whenever he could.
Frank loved to socialize, spending time at the senior’s centre, playing cards, shuffleboard, and of course every Thursday afternoon taking in the dances. At the time of his passing, Frank was the president of the Melville Senior’s Association in Melville. In the last year he was spending more time at home, enjoying whatever he could find on his ipad on YouTube, polka music, horse pulls or whatever else he could find.
In 2009, Frank had cardiac surgery, which took a long time for recovery, but he was a determined person and he was almost back to a normal lifestyle.
In 2010, Frank and Evelyn left the farm and moved into Melville to their present home on 10th Ave. West. Now there was more time for leisure and Frank had the opportunity to spend more time with friends on coffee row, exchanging stories from the past.
Frank is survived by his loving wife, Evelyn; sons, MICHAEL (Elissa) of Melville, children: Melanie (Evan), Nicole (Tyler) Williams and Briana (Danny), grandchildren: Jaxon, Hailey and Logan; NEIL (Deidre) of Regina, children: Kristen (Dalton), Madison (Devin); KEITH (Shannon) of Weuburn, children: Sloane, Jagger and Brogan; MARK (Dorothy) of Lloydminster, children: Chelsea (Tyvan), Cassidy and Matthew; sister, Maxine (Fred) Litzenberger; brother, Norman (Dorothy); sisters and brothers-in-law, Linda (Art) Zimmer, Gloria Lipinski, Beverly Krasowski, Adam (Joanne) Lipinski, Tony Koch; numerous nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by his parents, Nick and Mary Schmeltzer; in-laws, Adam and Clara Lipinski; sister, Rosemarie Koch; sister-in-law, June Schmeltzer and brother-in-law, Johnnie Krasowski.
Arrangements were by Bailey’s Funeral and Cremation Care, Melville.
