Robert Dean Melin

Robert Dean Melin, 82, passed away quietly on December 27, 2020 in his home in Tempe, Arizona surrounded by loving family. Bob was born on April 17, 1938 to Oscar and Ida Melin in Grand Forks, ND, the youngest of their three children. He graduated from Grand Forks Central High School in 1956. Bob then attended the University of North Dakota obtaining a BS degree in Industrial Engineering. While there he was a brother of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He met Kay Marie Kenville during one of their favorite pastimes, playing bridge. They soon married and had three children, Julie, Lynn and Mark, in three different states, while Bob participated in the General Electric managerial rotation program. Bob and Kay ended up settling in Schenectady, NY with Bob continuing his career at General Electric for the next 10 years. During that time, Bob received an MS in Business Administration from Union College. Bob and Kay then moved to Erie, PA where Bob worked for GE Transportation, finishing up 20 plus years with the company. From there he went on to work for AMCA International and then OnmiQuip, finally retiring as their Chief Operating Officer in 2001. After the untimely passing of Kay and a lonely period in his life, Bob found love again and a new bridge partner, Lorene Anne Zins. They married in 2005 and Bob and Lor blended their families together, with Bob adding two stepdaughters, Elizabeth and Susanne. Together Bob and Lor enjoyed spending time with their family and friends in their homes in Mequon, WI and Tempe, AZ. Bob was an avid sports fan, collecting teams from many the of 16 states in which he lived over the course of his life. This allowed him to always have a team to root for, only becoming a problem when two of his teams played each other. Bob was a highly skilled bridge player who won many awards, both on his own and with his partners. Reading was another of his passions, with interests ranging from National Geographic to James Patterson and Agatha Christie murder mysteries. In Tempe, Bob especially enjoyed his time in the Changing Hands book club with his nephew, Alan. Bob is survived by three children and their spouses, Julie and Bruce Roper, Lynn and Joe Cutts, and Mark Melin and Amy Bivens; two stepdaughters and their spouses, Elizabeth and Jeff Siebers, and Susanne and Tim Ulschmid; as well as eleven grandchildren, Aaron Cutts, Dani Cutts, Jenna Roper, Kira Roper; Kate Ulschmid, Ted Ulschmid, Ellen Ulschmid, Peter Siebers, Tom (Tyler) Siebers, Molly Siebers, and Rob Siebers, and his sister, Phyllis (James) Larson. He was preceded in death by his wives, Kay and Lorene, both of his parents, as well as his brother, Donald. Bob’s family and friends will always strive to live by his favorite motto, “Be positive or be quiet.” A memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations in honor of Bob may be sent to the American Heart Association: American Heart Association National Center 7272 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX 75231 Or given online at https://www2.heart.org/site/TR/FunRaiser/General?px=20566463&pg=personal&fr_id=3930