~~     Melvin L. Pike, 72, passed away in Wheaton Franciscan Hospital-All Saints, on Sunday, July 5, 2015. He was born in Oketo, KS, on June 23, 1943, the son of the late Clyde and Ruby (nee: Goins) Pike. Melvin graduated from Barneston High School, Barneston, NE, in 1961, and right after graduation he joined the U.S. Navy. He retired from the Navy in 1963 following and injury which resulted in the loss of a leg. Upon his return home, Melvin enrolled in Fairbury Junior College, in Fairbury, NE. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, in 1968. Melvin taught Business Education at J.I. Case High School for over 31 years, retiring in 1999. He enjoyed teaching, loved his students, and looked forward to every single day he taught. He remains close friends with several of his former students. Melvin was a member of the Racine Area Retired Educators Association, the Milwaukee branch of the Fleet Reserve Association, the Eagles Nest at the Armed Forces Center, in Racine, and a Life Member of the Nebraska American Legion Post 25. He enjoyed wood working and refinishing furniture. He loved to repair and rehab things and was always game to help friends with their projects. He dubbed himself CEO of his "pseudo company" jokingly referred to as American Door and Screen. Melvin is survived by three sisters, Dorothy Cook, of Oketo, KS, Shirley (Jerry) Weise, of Ft. Collins, CO, and Sharon (John) Keedy, of Wymore, NE; two brothers, Robert Pike, of Cheyenne, WY, and Milton "Mike" (Kay) Pike of Wymore, NE; sister-in-law, Jeanne Pike, of Wymore, NE, and his former wife and caring friend, Mary Dorais, of Racine. His nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends also survive him. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Judy (nee: Bretthauer) Pike; sister, Betty Tarvin Sauvage; brother, Ronald Pike, and two brothers-in-law, George Cook and Frank Tarvin. In keeping with Melvin's direction, cremation will take place. A memorial service will be scheduled for some time in August, and will be announced at a later date. Memorials can be directed to Mary Dorais to establish a scholarship in Mel's name, or to the American Legion Post 25, in Wymore, NE. A special thanks to the entire staff at Boland Hall of the Wisconsin Veterans Home-Union Grove for the care and support shown Mel over the past years