Melvin Gorden Luebbe was born June 17, 1942, and left this world in mid-July 2009 at age 67.
His adoptive parents were John and Gertrude Luebbe of Wausau, deceased. Mel graduated from Wausau High School in 1961, and from Wausau Vocational and Adult School in 1964 with an associate's degree in business administration accounting.
As a child, he attended Sunday School at Grace United Church of Christ in Wausau. He worked for American Motors in Kenosha and Drott Manufacturing in Wausau as an assembler. He served a full term in the Army Reserves and was honorably discharged in 1970.
As an adult, Mel was recognized by several generations of Wausau residents as a regular "fixture" downtown with numerous colorful habits that made him hard to ignore, such as his wearing of a hunter blaze orange stocking cap throughout the year.
Mel had a mental disease that may never have been diagnosed as so little is known about the private details of his life. He was very private when he was not out and about "socializing" in his own unique way.
Mel developed a family in the evolution of his relationship with downtown Wausau, made up of those many people who took the time to look in his eyes, and those many businesses that took the time and effort to go beyond mere toleration of his many visits -- be it taverns, banks or popcorn stands.
It is said that there is the sinner and the saint in all of us, and Mel was no exception to either. Unfortunately, many were turned away by some of his gruff social habits and never took the time to see either of these in Mel.
Those who did take the time to look in his eyes long enough to, as song writer John Prine says in one of his songs, "Say Hello In There," those people were rewarded for life by the only gift Mel could afford to give ... recognition in the form of a twinkle in his eye and his famous half grin. He would be deeply touched by your effort to connect, and once there was a connection, he never forgot who you were. Many stories from his many friends across the country attest to this.
We, his "adopted" family here in Wausau, invite you to a service in celebration of the life and teachings of Melvin Luebbe. It will be at noon Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 426 Washington St., Wausau, led by the Rev. Phil Schneider. There will be a luncheon served in the church basement immediately following the service.
A fund has been set up through Randlin Adult Family Home Care at a local bank to pay the cost of a grave marker for Mel with any surplus funds going toward Randlin's mission of providing affordable housing to disabled veterans. Please direct your memorial donations to this very worthy cause.
Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth St., Wausau, is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences at www.petersonkraemer.com.
