Melvin W. Rezac

Melvin (Mel) W. Rezac passed away at home August 25th, 2011. He was born June 24th, 1931 at Carter, South Dakota to Ed and Rose (Gruhn) Rezac. He spent his childhood on farms near Carter, South Dakota and Stuart, Nebraska, moving with his parents to a ranch in Keya Paha County, Nebraska in 1949. After spending two and a half years in the U.S. Navy, stationed in the Philippines, he returned to the ranch. In 1955 he married Donna Balm, this marriage lasted almost 56 years. In 1956, a son, Lance Melvin was born, followed by a daughter DeVee Lynette in 1960.

Melvin attended Colorado State University from 1956 to 1960 earning a degree in Forest Range Management. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Oregon and Montana before moving back to Colorado in 1968. He then accepted a job as Chief of Natural Resources at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado and worked there until his retirement. He lived in the Monument, Colorado area for 42 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Rose, two brothers, Harold and Edward, and his beloved son, Lance Melvin. He leaves his wife Donna DeVee, daughter DeVee Lynette Buttenwieser and husband Michael S., grandson Loren M. and granddaughter Leona D. Buttenwieser.

Memorials may be sent to One Nation Walking Together, 45-A Commerce Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907 or Oglala Lakota College, P.O. Box 490, Kyle, South Dakota 57752.

Arrangements under the direction of Mountain View Mortuary, Colorado Springs, CO.