Melvin Emil Schrank

https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/521812822 Melvin Emil Schrank, 90, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 in Meridian, Idaho. He was born in Corsica, South Dakota on Christmas Eve, 1929. The eldest son of John E. Schrank and Edwina (Hattie) Drefs, he spent his early childhood working the farm fields. During a visit to a nearby bar in 1951, Melvin and a good friend decided to enlist in the Army. During his three-year enlistment he was transferred to Schweinfurt, Germany and was a staff car driver for a lieutenant colonel. It was during his stay in Germany that he met his bride of 66 years, Martha Schindelmann. They married on May 15, 1954 in the village of Oberwerrn. The following September Melvin was honorably discharged from the Army and made his way back to farm in South Dakota with his new bride. After a few years of marriage, Melvin and Martha (Marge) moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to change careers and start their family. They had two daughters, Heidi and Tammy. He worked for a wholesale liquor distributor and traveled throughout the state delivering to bars and restaurants. Melvin also dabbled in owning a bar of his own, called the Alibi, where he and Marge worked evenings while keeping their day jobs. In 1972, he packed up the family and moved to Boise, Idaho to start a career in the sheet metal business which included heat duct fabrication for mobile homes. He retired when he turned 62. During his retirement he and Marge traveled with their motorhome throughout the United States, creating happy memories of their time on the road. Later in life the motorhome would stay put in Cascade, Idaho where they would spend their summers with friends. Melvin returned to working part time until the age of 80 for Idaho Auto Auction, at a floral shop delivering flowers, and Bow Wow Auto Parts as a parts chaser. He enjoyed hunting, cutting firewood for heat in the winter, and spending time in the mountains camping and riding his motorcycle. You could always find a Pabst Blue Ribbon in his cooler and he was always happy to share. Melvin is survived by his wife Marge; daughters Heidi (Don) Lowman of Meridian, ID and Tammy (John) Hammond of Colorado Springs, CO; grandsons Stephen Lowman of Berlin, Germany, Bryan (Jenna) Lowman of Boise, ID, John Michael (Laura) Hammond of Woodland Park, CO, and Justin (Amy) Hammond of Meridian, ID; brother Lee (Sandy) Schrank of Redwood Falls, MN; brothers-in-law Herbert Schindelmann and Norbert Schindelmann of Germany; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A private service will be held at Summers Funeral Home, Ustick Chapel followed by a private burial at Terrace Lawn Memorial Gardens in Meridian, Idaho.