Obituary of James Melson

James (Jim) Richard Melson, age 66, passed away on Thursday, January 5, 2017, surrounded by his family in Muscatine, Iowa. Jim was born on December 3, 1950 in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the son of Richard E. and Eva Mae (Frieden) Melson. Jim graduated from Muscatine High School in 1969 and earned a degree in industrial occupation from Northeast Missouri State University.

Upon graduation, Jim joined the family businesses, CK Processing Company and River Terminal Corporation, started by his father in 1957. Jim bought the companies in 1994 and sold them in 2012. In retirement, Jim continued to tinker at his farm where he enjoyed his horses, tractors, and being a jack-of-all-trades. Despite being diagnosed with multiple system atrophy (MSA), Jim continued his do-it-yourself projects; always having multiple, new projects on the horizon.

Jim was a well-known member of the community. He was involved in the Boy Scouts, Rotary Club, NRA, Agri-Business Association of Iowa, and Grace Lutheran Church. He also enjoyed traveling, trap shooting, fishing, camping, hiking, boating, and was an avid horse hobbyist. Most of all, Jim shared his passion for adventure with his family and spent many family vacations road tripping around the U.S. and overseas. Jim’s one of a kind sense of humor, integrity, and charisma will be greatly missed.

Jim is survived by his wife Arlene; son Christopher of Des Moines, Iowa; daughters, Stephanie (Michael) Melson Shepard of Black River Falls, Wisconsin and Katherine (Matthew) Melson Johnson of Des Moines, Iowa; two granddaughters, Elvy and Mhari; sister Jane Mathison of Ames, Iowa; mother-in-law Mary Ann Brzuszkiewicz of Wheeling, Illinois; brother-in-laws, Eugene (Susan) Brzuszkiewicz of Lancaster, California and Michael (Carol) Brzuszkiewicz of Lake Zurich, Illinois; nieces and nephews Randall (Christina) Mathison, Margaret Mathison, Neil Brzuszkiewicz, Branson Brzuszkiewicz, Michelle (Andrew) Brzuszkiewicz Martin and Kristen Brzuszkiewicz. James was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law Eugene Brzuszkiewicz and brother-in-law John Mathison.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Boy Scouts of America or Muscatine FFA.

The family will receive friends and family from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at the Geo. M. Wittich-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services, 2907 Mulberry Avenue, Muscatine. A service to celebrate Jim’s life will immediate follow at 12:00 p.m. Interment will be at a later date. Sympathy notes may be left for the family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.