Thomas Edner Melin

Thomas Edner Melin passed away in Arvada on the morning of September 1, 2024. He was a child of the Great Depression, born in Chicago on July 26, 1930, to Axel and Anna (Edner) Melin. Following Anna’s death after the birth of Thomas, Axel married Ruth Monge, and Ruth loved and cared for Thomas as if he were her own son.

Early in his long life, Thomas earned a teaching certificate through the Chicago Board of Education, served two years in U.S. Army during the Korean War, and in 1955, graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Upon discovery there was money to be made in the trade of pressman, Thomas worked as a pressman for the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, and moving his family to Broomfield, Colorado, in 1969, he ran the presses at the Rocky Mountain News. In Broomfield, he served his community as a volunteer ambulance driver, a Mason, and a deacon at the First Presbyterian Church.

Thomas was introduced to the wonders of the natural world by his father-in-law. He spent many vacations in the Rocky Mountains where he fished, camped, and passed on his love for the outdoors to his daughters.

During his retirement, Thomas spent time afield hunting upland birds with his buddies, and he loved the pleasure of watching hunting dogs work. A lifelong member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Thomas volunteered at the VFW Post in Elizabeth, Colorado. He traveled to New Zealand and to Europe. Thomas also loved to play golf with his friend, Bob.

Thomas loved to listen to Tex Ritter records, but appreciating all kinds of music, he and his loving wife, Hiltrud, attended many concerts. Thomas was a loving and devoted husband to Hiltrud who he said was his best friend.

He was preceded in death by his parents, by Ruth Monge, and by a grandson, Samson. He is survived by Hiltrud Melin and six daughters, Catharine Moser, Tracey Stockert, Lisa Roy, Deb Miller, Sharon Melin, Anna Frisby, and six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

If you wish to donate in his memory, please choose your local VFW.