MELLINGER, John Dale

Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Sunday, June 22, 2008 John Dale Mellinger died Feb. 4, 2008, at Bob Stump VA Medical Center in Prescott, Ariz. He was born Dec. 22, 1923, in Warba, Minn., the son of Kenneth and Mildred (Josephson) Mellinger. John was 84. John proudly served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He became a POW at the Battle of the Bulge on his 21st birthday. After the war he was a farmer. John enjoyed biking clear into his 80s among loving to snow ski and a deep love of the outdoors, sharing nature with the animals. John Dale Mellinger is survived by sons, Kenneth (Ruby) of Prescott Valley, Ariz., Tim of Harlen, Iowa; daughters, Debi Cannon of Show Low, Ariz., Sue (John) Thompson of Perth, Australia, Traci Mellinger of Sherman Oaks, Calif.; sister Naomi Lorence of Paso Robles, Calif.; grandchildren, Sara, Brian, David, Bethany, Lindsey, Josh, Amy, Angie, Joel, Kevin and Hannah; great-grandchildren, Caimyn and Adriana; and his four-footed family Murphy and Holly. Niche-side service will be 10 a.m. Monday, June 30, 2008, at Prescott National Cemetery, highways 69 and 89 with full military honors. Family suggests memorials to Patient Activities, VA Hospice Unit, Bob Stump VA Medical Center, 500 N. Highway 89, Prescott, AZ 86313. Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. Information provided by survivors.