Melvin Birkholz

Mr. Melvin Birkholz of Port Washington passed away on March 22, 2024, at Harbor Campus, where he had been residing for the last 2-1/2 years.  He was 90 years old.

Melvin was born in Hartford City, Ind., on Nov. 19, 1933, the son of LeRoy and Edna (nee Hedrick) Birkholz.

When Mel was 2 years old, the family moved to Cheeseville, where his father ran a cheese factory, and later to Fredonia, where his father ran a tavern.

Mel attended local schools and graduated from Port Washington High School with the Class of 1951 before earning his degree in teaching from Lakeland College.

Mr. Birkholz taught at Tomahawk High School for two years before becoming a production manager at Kenro Corp.

On Nov. 16, 1968, Mel was united in marriage with Carol Brabender at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Port Washington. The couple made their home on East Norport Drive in Port Washington.

Carol preceded him in death in 2012.

Mel was employed at the former Quik Mix/PCM/Koehring/Trak Industries in Port Washington for 41 years before retiring in 2001 as a data processing manager.   

  Mr. Birkholz was an active member of the Port Washington Lions Club, where he was a past president, Melvin Jones Award recipient and raffle calendar treasurer for many years.

Mel was a longtime participant in the Wednesday night men’s golf league at Hawthorne Hills and a volunteer with the Port Washington Food Pantry. He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed fantasy football, especially the Port Hotel fantasy football league he belonged to for many years.

Those left to cherish his memory include his sister-in-law Karen (James) Lavora; his nieces Shelly (Roy) Hartmann of Fredonia and Katie (Jake) Bares of Belgium; nephew Kyle Cobbledick of Sheboygan; his sister-in-law Adrienne Birkholz; his nieces Ann (Larry) Anderson, Julie Birkholz and Jennifer (Andy Hanf) Birkholz; nephews Matthew (Lori) Birkholz and Paul (Amy) Birkholz; his sister-in-law Nancy Birkholz; his niece Sandy Birkholz; and nephews Tim (Betsy Michels) Birkholz and Scott (Monica) Birkholz). Mel is further survived by other family members and many lifelong friends.

Mr. Birkholz was preceded in death by his wife Carol, brothers Terry and Hal Birkholz and nephew Shaun Cobbledick.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, at St. John XXIII Catholic Parish, St. Peter of Alcantara Church, 1800 N. Wisconsin St., Port Washington. Father Patrick Wendt will preside at the service.

Mel will be laid to rest beside his wife in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Port Washington, the following day.

The family will receive visitors at the church on Tuesday, April 2, from 4 to 6:15 p.m., with a walk-through for the Lions Club at 5:30 p.m.

To honor Mel’s passion for sports and the Milwaukee Brewers home opener, we invite guests to wear their favorite Brewers attire.

Memorials, if desired, are suggested in Mel’s name to The Food Pantry Inc. of Port Washington, 1800 N. Wisconsin St., Port Washington, WI 53074, or to Wisconsin Lions Camp, 3834 County Hwy. A, Rosholt, WI 54473.

Mel’s family would like to thank Lily Hospice and the staff at Harbor Campus for all that they have done for Mel.

Eernisse Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com.