+ Melvin Sievers

Wow. This one is so hard to write. A pastor is never supposed to have favorites in a congregation. Never. But, then there was Melvin. How could one help it? He and Lucille, Janice and Dean, such a staunch and strong family. I can say it, but with tears, I absolutely loved that man. 

Where to even begin? The argument with the cow that landed him in the hospital? Him DEFENDING the wretched cow? Parkinson’s had stolen a bit of the old smile from his face, but not from his heart. Him asking: “You still eating just meat?” I had to confess that I wasn’t JUST meat anymore. But still LOTS of meat. He nodded his approval. 

He was in his 90s in that hospital gown that doesn’t make for modesty. He was totally at peace. I wasn’t. I had been there it seems like an eon ago when his sweet mom, Esther, was passing. I remember reading to her the old prayers for the Gebetschatzbuch. I know that when we are approaching death, we tend to “go back,” as it were, to our youth. She grew up with German. Though, not in Gehlenbeck. The first time those three sisters registered to me, Wilma (of course!) informed me: “WE are not Gehlenbeck Sievers; WE are Braunschweig Sievers!” 

I soon learned the difference. The Braunschweigers remained fast friends. Melvin and Lucille went on road trips with motorcycles with Elsie (Sievers) and Ed Ahrens. The now defunct little Braunschweig Church formed them in a robust and sturdy Lutheranism. No nonsense. 

Melvin and Lucille’s daughter, Janice, has been a close friend since we came here. Our kids were the same age roughly. And, well, like her dad, she’s just a hoot. She makes me happy whenever we get the brief moment to catch up.

I remember when she told me her dad wasn’t doing well. Cindi and I were at 54th Street in Edwardsville, grabbing a bit to eat. I hoped to see him again, and was planning on going there the next day. He didn’t make it till the next day. 

My father-in-law, Dave, always insisted on stopping along the last pew to shake hands with Melvin and chat for a bit. He thought the world of him, along with the rest of us. 

I told Janice that when he arrived at last in the Kingdom, I’ll bet Sonny said: “Well, you sure took your sweet time, didn’t you? We’ve been waiting to get up a dart ball game!” 

I could go on and on about that dear man. Just seeing him and Lucille always brought a smile to my face. I  so look forward to being with him again, and not ever having to say goodbye. Pray for us, Melvin, that we stay faithful unto death as you did!

P.S. One more memory. It was shortly after Christmas. The choir was practicing before service. The sun was just rising over the horizon. I glanced out the door of the nave. Across the highway and across the field, an entire herd of deer was running across the field. I lost count of how many. I said to him: “We’re INSIDE ‘The Holly and the Ivy.’” He said: “Yup.” “The rising of the sun, the running of the deer, the playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.”