Melvin Kehl

Melvin “Mel” H. Kehl, age 86, of Mt. Carroll, Illinois passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at home. A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 18, 2011 at the First Baptist Church of Mt. Carroll with Reverend Robert Ziebarth officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Mt. Carroll with Military Rites. Visitation will be held 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Sunday, July 17, 2011 at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll. A memorial fund has been established in Mel’s memory.

Mel was born November 16, 1924 in Freedom Township, the son of Harry and Anna (Albrecht) Kehl. He attended the Sage Country School. On June 2, 1951, Mel married Gladys “Jackie” Ewing in Mt. Carroll. He served in the United States Navy for four years and then served with the Seebee Reserves for forty-three years.

Mel worked at Kelly Springfield Tire Co. in Freeport for twenty-four years. He was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church; Mt. Carroll Volunteer Fire Department; the Mt. Carroll American Legion; and the 40 8 Club. He loved working on tractors, lawnmowers, cars, trucks and other mechanical equipment. He also flew to Washington DC on the “Honor Flight,” and spent almost twenty years working at Boys State.

Mel will be dearly missed by loving family. His wife, Jackie of Mt. Carroll; two daughters, Judy (John) Avampato of Freeport and Dawn Beyer and Dan Speaker of Mt. Carroll; foster daughter, Paula Lane; 7 grandchildren; and 3 great grandsons. Mel is preceded in death by three children, Diane, Duane and Karl; two brothers, John and Maynard; and both parents.