Mel was born May 15, 1933, in Lincoln, Neb., the son of Karl “Charles” Hermann and Martha Anna Louise (Meyer) Stortz. He was baptized into the Lutheran faith on June 4, 1933 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Walton, Neb., where he confirmed that faith in Christ in 1946.
Mel grew up on a farm in rural Bennet, Neb., and graduated from Bennet High School in 1950. He worked as a traffic engineer for the State of Nebraska for three years before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1953. He was honorably discharged in 1956, after having been stationed in Germany. He graduated from Nebraska Weslyan University, in Lincoln, Neb., in 1959, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Mel attended graduate school at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, where on a blind date he met Carolyn Marie Hopperstad, who became the love of his life. They were married Feb. 4, 1962, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Iowa City, Iowa. To this union were born three children: Steven, Scott and Catherine.
Mel was employed by the U.S. Government as a purchasing agent, buying helicopters for the U.S. Army. The last big contract he signed was for the Black Hawk, which still is in use today.
Mel enjoyed spending time outdoors, gardening, meeting people, and traveling. He took his family on camping trips and vacations throughout the United States and Canada. After his retirement in 1988, Mel and Carolyn began traveling extensively, beginning with a three-month road trip to Alaska. Their travels were done by van on highways, byways, and especially back roads, and always involved stops near water for camping or a picnic lunch. The “Two for the Road” enjoyed the journey as much as the destination. He and Carolyn traveled to every state in the nation, all of the Canadian provinces, and made several visits to Europe.
Mel was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Oakville, where he served in leadership roles during most of his 55 years of membership. He was active in volunteer projects and Christian outreach missions locally and internationally. Several that were memorable were Laborers for Christ, Orphan Grain Train, Faith Homeless Mission, Faith’s Pine Ridge Reservation Mission Trip, and Servants to the Nations. He also supported outreach ministries, including Apple of His Eye Mission Society and Working with God’s Little Ones.
Mel is survived by his wife of nearly 59 years, Carolyn, as well as his children, Steven (Charlene) Stortz, of Hampton, Iowa, Scott Stortz, of St. Louis, Mo., and Catherine (Steve) Ripley, of Chillicothe, Mo.; Grandchildren Renee (David) St. John, Brian (Alicia) Stortz, Bethany (Mike) Slatten, Matthew (Lacey) Stortz, Daniel Stortz, Dalton Ripley and Claire Ripley; Great-grandchildren Fira St. John, Alena St. John, Madilynn Stortz, Jackson Stortz, Samuel Stortz, Amelia Stortz, Xander Slatten, Luca Slatten, Jace Slatten and Jameson Stortz. Mel also is survived by a brother, Herbert, of Lincoln, Neb.
Funeral service will be at Faith Lutheran Church, 6101 Telegraph Rd., St. Louis, MO 63129 at 12 noon on Thursday, January 21, 2021, with interment and full military honors to follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Visitation will be at Faith from 10:30 a.m. Thursday until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Mel’s memory be made to the following charities: With God’s Little Ones, 428 Julian Place, St. Louis, MO 63122 www.wglo.org; Orphan Grain Train, P.O. Box 29346, St. Louis, MO 63126 http://www.ogt.org (Missouri-Illinois Branch); or Apple of His Eye Mission Society, Attn: Steve Cohen, P.O. Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024 www.appleofhiseye.org
