Obituary for Mel Rodman
Melvin LeRoy Rodman, 88, Wichita, Kansas, formerly of Davenport, IA, died peacefully at home Friday, March 13, 2020. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2020 and Funeral service: 2 pm Wednesday, March 18, 2020, both at Smith Mortuary, Derby. Private Celebration of Life services will be in Davenport, Iowa on Friday, March 20th for immediate family and close friends. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park. A memorial has been established with ClearPath Hospice of Wichita LLC, 818 N Emporia Ave # 307, Wichita, KS 67214.
Melvin was born May 3, 1931, in Cheney, Kansas. He married Patricia Rodman on June 9, 1956, in Colorado.
He was a cook in the U.S. Navy then went on to work at Boeing, and retired from Case IH.
Mel was not one to sit around so upon retirement he had a number of jobs on golf courses, both in Iowa and Kansas. He was an avid golfer and when he wasn’t on the course, he was watching it on TV. He was also a lover of cars, tigers and loved working outside in his yard. Sundays were saved for worshiping at the Church of Christ.
Mel’s greatest joy was his love for his family and spending time with all of them whether they were near or far. He had many friends that have come and gone and some that are still here. Mel never met a person he did not like. He was quite a jokester and loved to laugh and tease.
Right up until September of 2019, Mel was still shooting pool. He took it very seriously, and even had a number of pool cues, and used all of them. Mel won many competitions. He was so proud to show younger players that he still had it in him even at his age.
Melvin is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of nearly ten years and her children, Grace and Laura, three grandchildren, two great grandchildren; Melvin’s children, daughter and son-in-law Susan (Rodman) and Mark Daxon, Davenport, IA; son and daughter-in-law, David and Julie Rodman, Rapid City, IL.; son Donnie Rodman and his fiancé, Justine, Glendale, AZ; 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his first wife Patricia; parents, Eva and Oakley; brother, Gerald; daughter, Vickie Rodman; and two great-grandchildren.
Melvin was born May 3, 1931, in Cheney, Kansas. He married Patricia Rodman on June 9, 1956, in Colorado.
He was a cook in the U.S. Navy then went on to work at Boeing, and retired from Case IH.
Mel was not one to sit around so upon retirement he had a number of jobs on golf courses, both in Iowa and Kansas. He was an avid golfer and when he wasn’t on the course, he was watching it on TV. He was also a lover of cars, tigers and loved working outside in his yard. Sundays were saved for worshiping at the Church of Christ.
Mel’s greatest joy was his love for his family and spending time with all of them whether they were near or far. He had many friends that have come and gone and some that are still here. Mel never met a person he did not like. He was quite a jokester and loved to laugh and tease.
Right up until September of 2019, Mel was still shooting pool. He took it very seriously, and even had a number of pool cues, and used all of them. Mel won many competitions. He was so proud to show younger players that he still had it in him even at his age.
Melvin is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of nearly ten years and her children, Grace and Laura, three grandchildren, two great grandchildren; Melvin’s children, daughter and son-in-law Susan (Rodman) and Mark Daxon, Davenport, IA; son and daughter-in-law, David and Julie Rodman, Rapid City, IL.; son Donnie Rodman and his fiancé, Justine, Glendale, AZ; 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his first wife Patricia; parents, Eva and Oakley; brother, Gerald; daughter, Vickie Rodman; and two great-grandchildren.