Memorial Service: May 26, 2013
Cremation - No Viewing - No Visitation
Memorials To: St. Peter Lutheran School, Deshler, Nebraska
Melvin George Lillich, the son of Otto and Ella Lillich, was born January 26, 1919, on the farm in
Carleton
,
Nebraska
, and passed away on December 7, 2012, at
Bryan
LGH
West
Medical
Center
, in
Lincoln
,
Nebraska
. Mel was baptized at
Trinity
Lutheran
Church
,
Friedensau
,
Nebraska
. He was confirmed at
Bethlehem
Lutheran
Church
, Kiowa,
Nebraska
. Mel attended both high school and college at
Concordia
Teachers College
in
Seward
,
Nebraska
. He graduated from Concordia in the class of 1941. He was one of the four sons of Otto and Ella Lillich, that served and were honorably discharged from the Air Force, Navy, SeaBees, and National Guard during the World War II era. Mel married Arlene Anna Meier on December 22, 1945. Mel was an educator and administrator for forty one years. He received advanced degrees from both
Phillips
University
in
Enid
,
Oklahoma
, and Southern Illinois University, in
Carbondale
,
Illinois
. He was a Lutheran school teacher and principal in
Iowa
,
Nebraska
,
Oklahoma
, and
Illinois
and finished his teaching career working with special needs students in
Illinois
. Mel received the Lifetime Service Award from Concordia Teacher's College in
Seward
,
Nebraska
, for "making a tremendous mark in the areas of education and servant leadership." He also received the Sower Award from Concordia. Mel loved his family and proudly displayed the bumper sticker "I Love my Family" on his car. He owned a farm on the Little Blue River which he spent time improving after he retired and moved back to
Nebraska
. Mel lived on an acreage next to
Deshler
,
Nebraska
, where he enjoyed growing trees, beautiful flowers, and lots of tomatoes. He served as a project coordinator for the Deshler Park Arboretum. Mel's final months were spent with his loving wife at Terrace Courtyard Assisted Living in
Hebron
,
Nebraska
. Mel's parents preceded him in death. Brothers Everett Lillich and Earl Lillich also preceded him in death. Mel is survived by his wife, Arlene Lillich , Hebron, Nebraska, his brother, Kenneth Lillich, Harahan, Louisiana, and his sister, Ines Buntemeyer, Deshler ,Nebraska, his children and their spouses, Dr. David Lillich and MaryAnn, Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, Pat Madsen and Steve, Richland Center, Wisconsin, Becky Roderick and Brian, Taylor Ridge, Illinois, and Ron Lillich and Monica, Golden, Colorado. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
