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LeRoy Melby obituary

On Dec. 27, 2020 LeRoy (Lee) Odell Melby, a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed away at the age of 86, surrounded by family, after a long battle with cancer.
Lee was born Jan. 14, 1934 in Canby, Minn. to Roy and Martha Melby and grew up with two siblings, Yvonne Green, and Virginia (Ginny) Engfer .
He lived a full life with many adventures and occupations. He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War from April 1952 until April 1956 as a KC-97 in flight boom operator. Lee married Janice (Jan) Larson on Dec. 15, 1956. Lee was a district manager for American Family Insurance from 1964 until 1977. He also owned several businesses after 1977 including a solar hot water equipment distribution company and energy conservation retail stores. He received his doctorate from Phoenix University of Theology in 1993. In his later years, he returned to his roots with insurance offering death benefit insurance for seniors.
Lee and Jan raised four children: Julie, Jayne, Jon, and Jennifer. Lee and Jan celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on Dec. 15, 2020, in Sun Lakes, Ariz.
Lee had a passion for the outdoors, aviation, reading and enjoyed chatting with family and friends over a cup of coffee, or a game of buck euchre. Lee and Jan spent summers in Lake City, Minn. with their daughter, Jen Keller, Mark Keller, and grandson, Charlie Keller. Lee loved Lake City and spent many days walking, or biking near Lake Pepin.
He was a kind, loving, and generous man who loved the Lord.
During Lee’s life adventures, he traveled throughout North America, Europe, and even New Zealand. Everywhere he and Jan traveled, they forged new friendships.
Lee was preceded in death by his father, Roy and his mother, Martha. He is survived by his sisters, Yvonne & Ginny, wife Jan, his three daughters, Julie Stelter (Lyle), Jayne Peterson (Todd), Jennifer Keller (Mark), and son Jon Melby (Joy). He is also survived by eight grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held on Jan. 16. at Faith Family Church in Chandler, Ariz.  
Online condolences may be left for the family at: www.facebook.com/leemelby.
 Cards may be mailed to:Jan Melby, 1601 W, Queen Creek Rd, #221, Chandler, AZ 85248.
In lieu of flowers, please support United Community Fund, a charitable organization formed by Lee and Jan Melby in 2004, www.ucfarmy.org

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ISSN 2994-1059 (print)  ISSN 2994-1067 (online)