Melvin Gillespie

Melvin Leroy Gillespie was born on December 27, 1925, in Redwood Falls, MN, the son of Albert and Salome Gillespie. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended school in Redwood Falls. He served his country in the United States Army from April of 1946 to April of 1947 during which time he was in the post war occupation of Japan. On December 10, 1949, he was united in marriage to Glaida Morrill in Granite Falls, MN. Melvin was employed by local farmers and by Sebring's Dairy for several years until he began farming on his own in 1952. He farmed all of his life in the Granite Falls and Maynard area and was a member of Granite Falls Lutheran church and participated in the NFO (National Farmers Organization) during the 1960?s. All of his life, Melvin was committed to good stewardship of the land and took great pride in his farming operation. Melvin was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was called from this life on Sunday morning, July 14, 2013, while a patient at the St. Cloud Hospital. He was 87 years of age. Surviving family include his children- Mary Gillespie (& husband Mohammed Al-Otaibi), of Granite Falls, Mark Gillespie (& wife Cinda Sagnes), of Granite Falls, and Michael Gillespie of Willmar; his sister- Norma Blank of Morton; granddaughters- Sarina & Luwaina Otaibi of Granite Falls, Crystal Gillespie of Willmar; grandsons- Heath Armstrong of Moundsview, and Devin Gillespie of Omaha, NE; and 4 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers- Thelbert & Art; his sister- Gertrude Curtiss and his two wives- Glaida and Joyce (Nerison).