Melvin J. Neaderhiser, Solomon, left this earthly life at the age of 86 years on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

He was born into this world on May 9, 1928 on a farm near Niles and was a lifelong area resident. He attended Melville Rural School and one more year at Bennington High School before being called back to work on the family farm.

Melvin served in the Korean War as a platoon sergeant in the 45th Infantry Division until being wounded in action in 1952. After the war he played trumpet with the Darrel Kelsey band performing for dances all around the area, while helping to build ponds and terraces and farming during the day.

He married his sweetheart, Katherine Bennett in 1955 and they worked hard together to establish their farm near Niles. Melvin was also a rural letter carrier out of Solomon for 40 years and drove over a million miles in that time through rain and snow to get that mail delivered no matter the condition of the roads.

Melvin was a man who enjoyed life and showed it with his infectious laughter and the twinkle in his eye. He loved music and dancing, fishing and eating ripe tomatoes from the garden, playing ping pong, and roasting everything over a fire.

He will be dearly missed by those who love him.

He was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Nellie Neaderhiser; step-sister Shirley Madill; sister Olive Neaderhiser and Mary Elvers; and brother Norman Neaderhiser.

Survivors include his wife Katherine of the home; three daughters Linda Bergner of Sedgwick, Joan Forristal of Salina, and Ann Reddy of Augusta; five grandchildren Ashley and Jared Bergner, Marci Forristal, and Ian and Zach Reddy; two step-grandchildren Amanda Trow (Jay) and Justin Forristal; two sons-in-laws Michael Forristal and Kumar Reddy, M.D. all of the state of Kansas; and one brother Wilbur Neaderhiser of Lyons.

Memorial services will be at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, December 27, 2014 at the Wilson Family Funeral Home, Minneapolis. Family burial services will be in Prairiedale Cemetery, Talmage. Visitation will be from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Friday, December 26 at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the United Church of Bennington or the Ottawa County Historical Museum.