Melvin W. Brand

Melvin W. Brand, 93, of Rushford, Minn., died on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford.

Melvin Walter Brand was born on December 8, 1928, west of Hart, Minn., in Winona County to Otto and Clara (Meyer) Brand. Melvin was raised near Hart and was a graduate of Rushford High School. Melvin was a lifetime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hart. He was baptized on December 16, 1928, and confirmed on May 8, 1942. Melvin served on the church council as a trustee and was chairman and elder several times.

On October 6, 1951, He was united in marriage with Anita Eggert. Melvin was a dairy farmer and sold Grade A milk. He sold his dairy herd in 1993 and sold the dairy farm in 1995. At that time Melvin and Anita moved to a smaller farm south of Hart where they built a new home. Melvin served on the Board of Sauer Memorial Home in Winona as director and was vice chairman when it was being built. He served as Clerk of Money Creek Township and later was a member of the Rushford Village Board. Melvin

was a member of the district Land O’Lakes Board and was elected to the board of directors of Farmers Co-op Elevator where he served for 18 years, with 14 years as president. In 1974, Melvin joined the Rushford Lions Club at the invitation of Carrol Kjos. He served on the Board of Directors as treasurer, secretary, vice president and president. Melvin also served as zone chair for two years and region chair for one year. In 1996, he was elected as vice district governor of MD5M1. He was district governor, which represents Minnesota’s eight southeast counties, in 1997 and 1998. Melvin served for six years on the Camp Winnebago Board. During his years in Lions, Melvin and Anita traveled a lot with his various jobs and made many many friends.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, grandson Justin Petersen, granddaughter Megan Shaw, son-in-law William Block, brother and sister-in-law Marvin and Edel Brand, brother-in-law Henry Volkman, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Norman and Eileen Eggert, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Lorraine and Virgil Tweten, brother-in-law O. Arlan Hildestad, and father-in-law and mother-in-law Herbert and Gertrude Eggert.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Anita; four children: Bonnie (John) Petersen, Joyce Block, Paul (Pam) Brand, and Dale (Joell) Brand; 11 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, sister Ellen Volkman, sister-in-law Elnora Hildestad, and by many nieces and nephews.

There will be a funeral service for Melvin at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 17, 2021, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hart, Minn. Burial will be in the St. John’s Brand Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.

Hoff Funeral Home in Rushford is assisting the family with arrangements.

Please leave a memory of Melvin and sign his online guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com.

The family prefers memorials directed to the Lions Eye Bank.