Wesley Dean Meland

Wesley was baptized at Pelican Valley Lutheran Church by Rev. A. Egge onApril 10, 1932. Godparents were Mr. and Mrs. Christ Westby, Gladys Olson[who worked as our mother's helper], and Vernie Larson.
Wes attended elementary school in Pelican Rapids and when the familymoved to Bemidji in 1942, he attended elementary school in Nymore. In1949 they moved to Northwood, ND and Wes graduated from Northwood HighSchool on June 1, 1951. During high school, he attended classes in themorning and worked at the lumber yard in the afternoon.
He served four years in the Air Force and was stationed at Nellis AirForce Base and in Okinawa. After he was discharged from the Air Force,he joined the North Dakota Air National Guard in Fargo, ND where he was ajet mechanic.
In 1962 Wes and Lennie moved back to Northwood where he operated theMeland plumbing and heating business. He and Reuben were pioneers ingeothermal energy in North Dakota.
In 1983 they visited Lennie's brother in Mesa, Arizona and purchased ahome. They returned to Northwood, put their home and the plumbingbusiness on the market. Both sold in a short time. The family moved toa farm and lived there until Beth finished school.
In 1984 they moved to Mesa, AZ. Wes was hired as a school districtplumber/ maintenance person and worked there until he retired in 1997.Their Arizona home is comfortable and filled with warm hospitality asthey have entertained many of our family.
March 1995: At age 60 stated - "We are throttling back for the landing."
Hobbies: Inventing; boating, camping; gold panning (California andArizona);
travel (to CA); TV Gold shows; children and grandchildren.
Illnesses: Measles May 1935, chicken pox March 1937; whooping coughJanuary 1940; tonsilectomy October 1940; mumps 1941.
Liver/blood disease beginning 2004
Wesley fought a brave and good fight but left this world peacefully onJanuary 8, 2007 with his family at his side.
Memorial Service was held at Desert Cross Lutheran Church on January 12,2007 and burial at Mountain View Memorial Gardens, Mesa, Arizona.

Granddaughter Danielle gave a moving tribute to Wes - "To everyone whoknew my grandpa, there were a few things about him that were veryapparent. He cared for his family more than anything, and always putthem first. He was a man of faith and of his word. And, he was the kindof grandfather that every child hopes for. Because only Grandpa couldtake a piece of plywood and wield it into something more entertainingthan any Gameboy could ever hope to be. Only Grandpa could pass on apassion for flying and airplanes onto not one, but two generations. OnlyGrandpa could make songs like "Dirty Will", "Grannys in the Cellar", and"Aren't You Glad You Married A Meland" into classics. Only Grandpa couldturn a leaf-blower into the most amazing [and powerful] bubble machineI've ever seen. Only Grandpa would be completely content watching hisgrandchildren mess up his house for days on end. {Secretly knowinggrandma would take care of it.] Only Grandpa could sit and watch everyepisode of Spongebob Squarepants, and eventually adopt it as his ownfavorite show. Only Grandpa could make a little girl want to learneverything there is to know about gold panning and how a GPS Systemworks. And Only Grandpa was a good enough man to deserve my Grandma.I'm sure everyone here has wonderful memories of grandpa, and arethankful for the time they spent with him. I know I am. And I willalways consider myself lucky to have called him "Grandpa".

On January 20, 2007 a memorial service was held at the Community BibleChurch in Northwood, North Dakota which many friends and relativesattended. It was especially meaningful to Muriel, Donald, Noren, andReuben who were unable to attend the service in Mesa.

We miss our brother who was such a kind and generous person, loved toentertain us even when he was so ill. Michael, Russell, and Arlinevisited Wes and Lennie October 5, 6, 7 and enjoyed being with themagain. We sang with Wes as he played his ukele and sang to Cameron andall of us, took pictures that we now treasure so much. Their trips toCalifornia were always special to us and we miss the gold panning, GPStrips, hikes and visits. Donald, Noren and Reuben visited Wes and Lenniein November.