Melvin Wolter, 93, of Lester Prairie
Melvin Albert George Wolter, 93, of Lester Prairie, died peacefully Sept. 2, 2016, at Waconia Good Samaritan Society in Waconia.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Sept. 6, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Lester Prairie with the Rev. Travis Loeslie officiating. Nancy Buckentine was the organist. Congregational hymns were “Crown Him With Many Crowns,” “The Will of God is Always Best” and “All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night.” Dennis Wolter was the cross bearer.
Casket bearers were Donald Miller, Brian Herrmann, Christopher Feltmann, Calvin Wolter, Gordon Houk and Robert Wolter.
Interment was in the St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery in Lester Prairie.
Melvin Alvin George Wolter was born Sept. 18, 1922, on the family farm in Bergen Township, McLeod County. He was the son of J. Peter and Margaretha (Engelmann) Wolter. He was baptized as an infant Oct. 1, 1922, by the Rev. Rhinhold Zwintscher and was confirmed in his faith as a youth on April 5, 1936, by the Rev. Ruben L. Ehlen, both at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Plato. He attended District 19 country school in Bergen Township and St. John’s parochial school in Plato. As a teenager, he worked for area farmers.
On Sept. 8, 1946, Mr. Wolter was united in marriage to LaVerna Birkholz by the Rev. Berthold Streufert at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Lester Prairie. The couple lived with Mrs. Wolter’s parents on the farm and, in 1960, moved to their new home, which Mr. Wolter’s crew built, in Lester Prairie. In September 2010, Mr. Wolter moved to Grand Meadows Senior Living in Glencoe. On July 26, 2016, he became a resident of Waconia Good Samaritan Center in Waconia. He and his wife shared over 57 years of marriage before Mrs. Wolter’s death on Oct. 13, 2004.
Mr. Wolter drove milk and gas trucks for Henry Fruetel. In 1952, he started construction work for Herb Birkholz, retiring in November 1986. He was an active member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, where he served as an elder, treasurer and on the building committee for the new church building in 1965 and 1966.
Mr. Wolter enjoyed farming, carpentry work, building the model of the first St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, scrapbooking, playing cards and puzzles. He loved helping others. He cherished the time spent with family and friends.
He is survived by his sister-in-law, Bernice Wolter of Glencoe; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, J. Peter and Margaretha Wolter; wife, LaVerna Wolter; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Fred and Elsie Birkholz; brothers, Raymond (Ruth) Wolter, Edmund Wolter, Orville Wolter, Maynard (Elizabeth) Wolter and Ardell (Erna) Wolter; and sister, Laverna (Edwin) Miller.
Arrangements were with the Paul-McBride Funeral Chapel in Lester Prairie. Online obituaries and guest book are available at www.hantge.com.
