Melvin R. Evrard

Melvin Evrard, 89, Green Bay, died peacefully on February 26, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. Mel was born on January 15, 1926, to William and Elvira (Gerondale) Evrard. He attended St. Peter & Paul Grade School, and graduated from Green Bay East High School, Class of 1944. Upon graduation, Mel enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on an USS LSM-433 from 1944 to 1946 during WWII. In 1950, he was called back for the Korean War, served on an USS LST-1089, and was discharged in December of 1951. After serving his country, he attended St. Norbert College and worked at Morley Murphy. On August 11, 1951, Mel married the former Helen Meulemans at St. Mary's Church in East Wrightstown.

Mel was a member of the VFW, DAV and the Knights of Columbus, and served as a Volunteer Fireman in the Town of Preble. For many years, he had a vending & music business and retired as a real estate broker. Mel also had a popcorn business, and distributed popcorn until the age of 88.

Mel especially enjoyed spending time at his cottage in Door County, where he taught his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren how to catch and clean fish and then served up his special fish fry. He also enjoyed gardening, playing cards, dancing, and loved to “fix things”. Mel was a sports enthusiast and was an avid Green Bay Packers fan, going to all of the games since he was a teenager, up until last year.

Mel was honored to participate in an “Old Glory Honor Flight” on July 29, 2010, dedicated to transporting local WWII and Korean War veterans to Washington D.C. to see the memorials built in their honor.

Mel is survived by his wife Helen and five daughters: Kathryn Gass, Green Bay, Jeanne Walker, Houston, TX, Diane Killeen, Phoenix, AZ, Sue (Kevin) King, Green Bay, and Mary Kay (Larry) Wilke, Green Bay; He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Justin (Maggie) Gibeault, Megan Gibeault, Jason (Michelle) Walker, Chris (Lissette) Walker, Rachael (Jeremy) Grantham, Carlye King, Margo King, Aaron (Kimberly) Destiche, and Daniel Destiche and nine great-grandchildren; a sister, LaVerne Vander Heyden; a sister-in-law, Stella Bouche; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Norman “Speed”; a sister and her husband, Mildred (Dick) DeGreef; brother-in-law, Herman Vander Heyden; and his in-laws, George and Barbara Meulemans, Marjorie and Jack Zadrazil and Jerome and Eleanor Meulemans, as well as a nephew, Jerry Meulemans, Jr.

Friends may call at Malcore (East) Funeral Home, 701 N. Baird Street, from 4-7 pm, Sunday concluding with a prayer service at 7 pm. Visitation will continue Monday at St. Bernard Church, 2040 Hillside Lane, from 9:30 am until the time of the funeral. Funeral Mass, 11 am at the church with Rev. Mark P. Vander Steeg officiating. Full Military Honors will conclude the services. Entombment in Allouez Chapel Mausoleum.

The family would like to express a special thank you to Unity Hospice and St. Vincent Hospital 9th floor nurses and staff for their compassion and excellent care of Melvin.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, a memorial fund has been established.