Calvin Mechels

Calvin Mechels, 85, died Thursday, July 5, 2012 at his Sioux Falls home. Calvin Henry Mechels was born on June 25, 1927 on a farm near Tea, South Dakota, the son of Gerhard J. and Sophie Margarethe (Fischer) Mechels. He grew up there, attending Tea Public Schools and later went on to receive his GED. In 1950 he entered the U.S. Army where he served during the Korean War until his honorable discharge in 1952. In 1953 he married Edna Marie Plucker at the Germantown Parsonage, Chancellor. Three children were born to this union. He farmed near Tea and then moved to the family farm near Lennox in 1963. Besides farming Calvin also worked as a mechanic, a truck driver for First Rate Excavating, sold insurance for Prim America and Eastern Farmers Elevator in Canton. Calvin was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, Tea, Tea American Legion, Sioux Falls V.F.W., Toast Masters, Dakota Rural Action and Tea Area Historical Society. He held offices in the National Farmers Organization and belonged to the A.C.L.U. Calvin had a love for politics and had run for state representative. He was an active Democrat and was treasurer for the Turner County Democratic Party. He was an avid reader, both for farming and politics. Besides his parents, Calvin was preceded in death by an infant daughter in 1959 and two sisters: Margaret in 1949 and Caroline Shoeman in 2004. Grateful for having shared his life are his special friends, Ann Wittrock and Ada Hanson, Sioux Falls; children: Clifford (Ellie) Mechels, Sioux Falls, Cindy (Doug) Schaefer, Seneca, SD and Maurice (fiancée Ardis Taubert) Mechels, Luverne, MN; seven grandchildren: Kevin Mechels, Shaun, Chanesse and Kasey Schaefer, Jennifer (Travis) Holland, Jason (Kacie) Mechels, and Jesse (fiancee Sandy Duncan) Mechels; six great-grandchildren; sisters: Luella (Bennett) DeJong, Harrisburg, Alma (Richard, Jr.) Gors, Tea, Joanne (Charles) Bennis, Brandon and Jeanette (Glen) Eichacker-McVay, Sioux Falls. Services will begin at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 10 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Tea. Visitation will begin at noon Monday at Dindot-Klusmann Funeral Home, Lennox with the family present from 7 to 8 p.m

Calvin Mechels

June 25, 1927 - July 5, 2012

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