Melvin Yantis

Melvin Yantis, 87, of Rhodes, widely known area businessman, died early Monday morning, May 5th, at the Iowa River Hospice Home with his wife, Martha, at his side. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 9th, at the 1st United Methodist Church. He will be laid to rest with full military honors by the combined Veterans of Foreign Wars Harry C. Harter Post #839 and the American Legion Frank Lewis Glick Post #46. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to his family. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234. Born on May 24th, 1926, in Union, Iowa, he was the son of Fred E. and Ola Fay (Rummerfield) Yantis. He received his education in the Liscomb and Liberty Schools in Marshall County. During WWII, he served our country honorably in the United States Army Infantry from 1944 to 1947 and received many medals including the European Theatre Combat Badge. He carried the Browning Automatic Weapon in the front line combat duty and was honorably discharged as a Tech. On January 25th, 1948, he was united in marriage to Wanda A. Zesch. Four children were born to this union- Michael D., Connie Jo, Ronald M. and Sandra K. The couple divorced in 1969. Melvin was employed for many years at Swifts, Fisher Controls and later was founder and owner of Yantis Tree Removal, which he operated from 1950 until his retirement in 1990. During that same time, he was also appointed Supervisor of the Marshalltown Forestry Department during the Dutch elm disease crisis. He also developed an area of West South Street known as the Yantis Addition. His corporation was formed to buy and sell real estate and rent, known as M.C.R.S. Inc. of Marshalltown- the initials of his four children. He also owned and operated an eight unit motel in Colorado Springs. Melvin was a member of the Full Gospel Businessmens Fellowship International, past member of the Church of the Nazarene, taught Sunday school, Superintendent, Board member, Choir and Quartet member, a later member of the Grace United Methodist Church serving in similar capacities, and then Fellowship Baptist Church before becoming a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church. On December 19th, 1992, he was united in marriage to Martha Freland and they have resided on an acreage west of Rhodes since then. Left to cherish his memory are Martha, his loving wife of 21 years, four children: Mike Yantis of Marshalltown, Connie Jo (Brad) Etter of Marshalltown, Ronald M. (Mayzel) Yantis of Wheat Ridge, Colorado and Sandra (Terry) Nicholson in Colorado as well as nine grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, brother Fred Yantis of Marshalltown, and sister Nellie Brumbaugh of Yorba Linda, California. Also surviving are many cousins and friends. In death, Melvin rejoined his parents, brothers Dean, Roscoe, Samuel, Leo, Vernon and James, sisters-Lela and Fern and those in infancy- Bonnie Belle and Charles.