Dear Pat, and Family,

We are so saddened by the loss of your loved ones.   We are also  saddened by the fact that the circumstances of life sent us all in 
different directions  over the years and we lost the loving association we enjoyed when we were kids and Aunt Hessie and Dad and Mom were still alive. 

May the Lord be with each of you to bring you His  peace and comfort.

You are in our prayers

Love, your cousins, Judi McClure, Jeneen Nelsen,  Barbara Prendergast and Families.

To Mel's family, I just heard of Mel's passing. My sincerest condolences to you all. I worked with Mel at the Planetarium and he always had a way to bring humor and fun to the workplace. The world has lost a wonderful person. May he rest in peace.

To Mel's Family,
I only just found out about Mel's passing and am so sorry that I wasn't able to be at his memorial.  I worked with Mel at the Hansen Planetarium, we shared adjoining work spaces and so many  special times.  He introduced me to many new eating places/food on our lunchtime excursions.  He was such a good friend to me while I went through a very difficult time in my life.  He always had the time to tell me how to do home repairs or cook the  best dishes.  Every spring it was a contest to see who always got the first tomatoes (he always won and shared the tomatoes to boot).  He loved his family so much and was so proud of them.  He had more than his share of pain and sorrows but had such a positive outlook and uplifting spirit that was truly contagious.  When my mother passed he made a long journey in a horrible snow storm to be there in my support.  He regaled me with the wonderful tales of Sparky and I still have several chapters that he shared with me.  Mel was a wonderful friend.  We were out of touch the last couple of years but I've had so many good thoughts of him and know that we'll meet again.  May God grant you peace and comfort in your memories of him  He was one of a kind.

I'm sorry to hear of Mel's passing, and so sorry that I didn't hear soon enough to attend the memorial service. Signed, a former co-worker at Hansen Planetarium.

I was so very sad when I read that Mel had passed. He was like the big brother I never had. We worked together for several years at Mercury Publishing and I always looked up to him. He had a great sense of humor and a lot of good advise. For years as I thought of him often, I had hoped to see him again. Mel will always remain in my thoughts and my heart.

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.  It made me sad.  I went to high school with Blaine and he was a lot of fun.  My deepest sympathies.

I have so many good memories of Mel...where do I begin.... He was kind, caring, honest and a good example to my children. He was generous with his time and resources and helped many people in many ways.  He's one of the smartest men I know..whenever I needed to know something I would ask Mel. He tried, but not very successfully, to teach me how to fish. He was very good at duck hunting, but we had an agreement that I would not take him to the opera if he would not take me duck hunting. He lived life to the fullest. How thankful I am for the time we had together.  We shall miss him very much. Farewell until we meet again.  Dianne AKA NNNNNN"s

I am so sorry to hear of Mel's passing.  He was my brother-in-law.  I had not talked with him for a long time. He worked in the men's department at The Paris Co. department store with my mother and also met Mary there. We had many wonderful times together. He and Mary loved each other very much.  He was heart broken at her passing.  Her illness was a difficult time in his and our lives.
When they were dating he was always at our house. He taught us to love several musical, "The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd" was one he liked a lot.  He then went in the Army and they later married in El Paso, Tx. where he was stationed.  Mary became ill a couple of months after their marriage and passed away 13 months later.
I'm happy after 45 they are together.

Melvin was more like a best friend to me than a neighbor. We would watch South Park, talk about anything and everything. We'd go on taco runs. He loved weinerschnitzel. He loved his family and was very proud of his children their spouse's and his grandchildren. He will be missed by me and I know that there are a lot more people out there who will miss him as well. He made friends any where he went. When I make it out west I will max bet a video poker in your honor Mel not a penny slot.

Ray, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother.  May God be with you and all of Mel's family and friends.

Richard Wallin

My condolence to the Joos family.
Marlon E. Kunz

Where do I begin with Mel??..  He was like a father to me...  We called him "Step Mel"..   A great man and one of a kind!!..   I learned so much while he was in my life.  He was an amazing teacher and very brilliant..  I will never forget our many fishing trips together.  We would go almost every weekend for years.  We saw many wild life from large moose, baby bear cubs, deer, rabbits, badgers, snakes and more.  Funny story about a snake.  Mel knew how much I don't care for them so one trip, I was getting my fishing boots on, bent over in the front passenger car seat and when I lifted my head up, there was this large snake in front of my face, we were staring eye ball to eye ball.  It was horrifying!  He laughed while I squealed like a little pig. To be honest, the snake was the size of a pencil but to me it was a monster.  :o)  He taught me how to tie flies.  They were not even close to what they were supposed to look like however I have caught many fish on my genetic mutant challenging looking flies.  Another trip, Mel  hooked himself in his lower chin.  He called to me to come help.  I took one look at him and said “you are on your own for this one”.  He knows I don't handle blood very well and we just laughed about it for hours.  Mel and I took my grandfather fishing and I caught my largest fish then.  My grandfather was so amazed you could catch that big of a fish (3 pounds 22 inches long brown) on such a small hook and on a fly that I tied.  Having Mel and my grandfather there is one of my fondest memories..   Mel was a great handyman.  He could fix anything.  I would go with him on several jobs he did.   One job we did was building a fence and a board slipped out of my hands and landed on his head.  He was seeing stars.   I asked if twitty bird was amongst those stars.  We just laughed about that too..   We (Mom/Dianne, Mel and I) took many trips together.  He wanted to show us all these places that he has been.  There was one trip where we took my grandfather up to Washington State.  It was winter time and the roads were snow packed.  The police would not let anyone pass without chains.  Of course living in Utah, we didn't need chains, we know how to drive in the snow, ha ha.  So Mel and I went to the only place where they were selling chains.  We got some and proceeded to put them on.  Once they were on, they lifted the requirement of having chains on therefore we took them off.  In the meantime, mom was in the "princess seat".  The process of having to put the chains on and off happened several times.  We never did once got to use the lucky chains..   Mel was also an amazing cook.  When we had family get together, us kids (Mandy, Andrew, Sandy and I) would ask who was cooking.  If we found out that it was Mel then we were there..   Mel loved to paint and was wonderful at it.  He helped me paint my first painting which I might add, is not too bad.  Almost looks as good as one he had painted..  Mel also was an amazing writer.  He was working on publishing a “Sparky” book which was about a unhealthy unwanted dog.  He was so descriptive in his story telling that he made you feel like you were part of what was happening..   Mel was a practical joker and full of life..  There are so many other wonderful memories that I have shared with Mel while he was in my life..   He will be missed!!!   I love you Mel, your step daughter, Amy..

Dear Justin,Andrea, Andrew, Mary,Kayla, Misty, John, Jim  and all the family,

You are in our thoughts at this difficult time. We will always remember Mel's goofy sense of humor and his willingness to help others.

We admire the ways in which you have supported him through difficult times, and we send our love and prayers to all of you.

Pam and David Lodefink

I have many great memories of Mel, and we shared a lot of good times together.  He was so, so talented and has a knowledge base that was astounding….he truly seemed to know everything about everything!   He could plow through thick books at light speed, and often was reading multiple books simultaneously. Mel was a master craftsman and there wasn't anything he couldn't engineer in his mind and then construct out of wood.  All of my pine-wood derby success, many Halloween costumes, school projects, etc. I owe to Mel and the wizardry of his design and hands.  
Mel was an incredible friend…the kind who would drop anything or respond at a moment's notice without giving it a second thought.  No project or favor was ever too big or too much to ask of Mel.  He had a unique and special way of showing others how much he cared; young and old alike, he treated everyone as a close friend.   A true gentle giant of a man, in stature but more so in character and heart.
Mel taught me to love the sounds of Billy Joel…he wore out many cassette tapes on many road trips in the old blue and white Land Cruiser;  heading to or from Duchene or another secret fishing spot he had discovered along life's path.  The man knew how to fish!  However, he seemed to have more fun and found more joy in sharing his experiences and passions teaching others and including them in all he did.  
To this day, I can't drink a sip Coke®, let alone see a can/bottle of Coke without thinking about Mel.  There are many choices of cola products available, but in Mel's mind there was only ever one….Coca-Cola!  He is the only person I have ever known, who practiced and considered Coca-Cola as one of the 4 main food-groups!   Every time I have a Coke (Coke Zero in my case), I raise my can to him, his life, his memory, our friendship, and the longstanding memories of your life and the memories we shared along the way.
In my mind and heart, he will always be “Uncle Mel” and I will always hear his voice calling me “Dee-ron”!  Grateful for his influence for good in my life and the life of my family.   I love you Mel.  You will never be forgotten.  
Save me a spot on the other side…and while you're at it, find us some good places to fish too!!

My Sincere Sympathy for the passing of Blaine.  He was a fun person to be around and was a kind and loving uncle to my children.  My thoughts and prayers are with the family.  Sincerely, Trish Joos

His influence in my life will never be forgotten. He was the big brother that tried to teach me fly fishing, who taught me to shoot clay pigeons, took me duck hunting where I have never been so cold and played basketball keep away for a penny a try. I earned 2 cents off him on that and very sore forearms. I watched him struggle through cancer with Mary, the tragic loss of sweet Katie, and all the support he gave during Evelyn's struggle with cancer. He was a rock for me when I needed a big brother. I will always love him. He will never be forgotten. He will always be missed.

OBITUARY

Melvin Blaine Joos

August 7, 1946 – February 1, 2014

Valley View Memorial Park and Funeral Home

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