Melvin Bratland

Celebration of Life Services for Melvin Bratland, 97, of Spirit Lake and formerly of Bode, Iowa will be 3 pm, Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Visitation will begin at 2 pm. Melvin Arthur Bratland was born on December 20, 1917 in Ottosen, Iowa to Albert and Mary (Wehrspann) Bratland. He graduated from Ottosen High School in 1937. On October 30, 1937, Melvin was united in marriage to Emma Anna Hinz at Humboldt, Iowa. On June 26, 1944, Melvin entered the United States Navy, where he achieved the rank of Machinist's Mate 3rd Class (T), USNR. He served in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre during World War II, where he was a Navy Seabees. Melvin was honorably discharged on January 7, 1946. He lived in Bode, Iowa, Humboldt County all of their married life. He operated a trucking, corn shelling and drainage business for many years at Bode, Iowa. In later years, he was a heavy equipment operator. In July of 2008, he moved to the Iowa Great Lakes area. Melvin was a lifetime member of the Bode American Legion Post 524, where he served as Post Commander, Chaplain and Service Officer and also Humboldt County Commander & Chaplain. He also held offices at the district level. He was a life time member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, Algona, Iowa and also a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 29. He served on the boards of Your Inc, of Fort Dodge and Humboldt and the Bode Public Library Board (until 2008). Melvin devoted a good deal of time to volunteer work for many organizations. Melvin passed away at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake on February 17, 2014 at ninety six years of age. Surviving Melvin are his daughter, Arlene Ostrum, who resides in Spirit Lake, Iowa with husband Jerry; three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Grandson Keith Ostrum resides in Spirit Lake with his wife Susy and daughter Maggie. Granddaughter Sharon Moritz resides in Houston, Texas with her husband Henry and their three children Jenifer, Jonathan, and Karla. Granddaughter Victoria Cary resides in Oakland, California. He is also survived by brother, Arnold Bratland (Barb) of Bode and sister, Liala Kinseth (Arlis) of Bode and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Mary Bratland; his wife, Emma; his daughter, Elaine; brothers, Ernest Bratland, Glenn Tofteberg, and Leo Tofteberg and sister, Gladys Kading. Memorials may be left to St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Bode, Iowa, Bode Public Library or Bode Veterans Memorial Park, Bode, Iowa.