Melvin Askren 1930-2022
Melvin Earl Askren, 91, of Holton, passed away Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at Medicalodges Jackson County.
He was born Dec. 10, 1930, at the family home, nine miles southwest of Holton, the son of Roscoe “Earl” and Jennie May (Simmons) Askren.
He attended Winding Vale School, District #20 for seven years, then moved to Pleasant Valley, District #8 for the final three weeks of his elementary school. He graduated from Holton High School in 1948; he was listed as Who’s Who Among High School Students of America. He attended Kansas State University from 1948 to 1949 and later Bakersfield Junior College and Pasadena City College.
Melvin lived his early years in Holton and later in California, Oregon and Colorado. He was a manager and estimator for electrical construction, covering the western United States.
He worked for Fischbach and Moore in Los Angeles for 18 years and for Morrow Meadows Electrical Contractor in Los Angeles for seven years, building large buildings including the arena for the Portland Trailblazers. He retired in Portland, Ore. in 1996 and returned to Holton.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Holton, the Pleasant Valley 4-H Club, a 7th Degree member of Kansas State Grange, Banner Grange 1481 and the Elk Creek Turtle Club. He had attended the Circleville Methodist Church. Melvin enjoyed playing bridge, golfing and cutting and selling wood.
He married Bonita Cornelsson in 1949 and they lived west of Holton until moving to California in 1953. Their son Misha was born while they were in Kansas, followed by David and Russell, born in California. Bonita and Melvin later divorced. He married Eleanor Vallon; they divorced. He married Patricia Kell; they divorced.
Survivors include his three sons, Dr. Misha Askren (Ruth) of Los Angeles, Calif., David Askren of St. Johnsbury, Vt., and Dr. Russell Askren (Lynn) of Salt Lake City, Utah; sister, Daisy M. (Ed) Wright of Yuma, Ariz.; companion, Thersa Wade of Holton; seven granddaughters; two grandsons; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Jennie Askren; and a brother, Lawrence Askren.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 7 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial will follow in Holton Cemetery. Family will greet friends one hour prior to service time.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Holton Community Hospital Cardiovascular Unit, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
